NEW YORK — Let’s give credit where it’s due regarding Juan Soto. He was drop-dead honest when he said life with the Mets is “different” than it was with the Yankees. It was neither a complaint nor an insult to anyone on either New York team – just the truth about the advantages of hitting in front of Aaron Judge versus Pete Alonso.

So far, it seems like pitchers are intent to let anyone but Soto in the Mets lineup beat them. And it's resulted in a strong start to the season for slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, who, entering play Tuesday, leads the National League with a 1.136 OPS.

A member of the New York Yankees organization has issued a retort to Juan Soto's comments about hitting without Aaron Judge.