NEW YORK, NY – It was 12 years ago when 19-year-old Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper responded to a reporter’s question with the infamous line of, “That’s a clown question, Bro.” The response came after the reporter asked Harper if he wanted to celebrate with a Canadian beer since the legal drinking age in Canada is 19, and what was his favorite beer. All this was after Harper hit a long home run against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
This past week the N.Y. Yankees were down 8-1 to the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. outfielder Juan Soto connected for a 2 run homer to cut the Orioles lead to 8-3. As soon as Soto began his trot around the bases, he transformed what once was known as The Bronx Zoo into “His Own Circus.”
Soto clapped, pointed up to the heavens, pointed again to The Bleacher Creatures, took his time going from second to third, and then greeted the on-deck batter, who was Aaron Judge, with a celebratory high five. The free-agent to-be acted like he just tied the game with a7 run homer.
The Yankees announcers practiced their, ‘I see nothing wrong with this action’ schtick and the beat reporters reported nothing about this, to use Harper’s line, clown act.
Somewhere up above, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, along with Mickey Mantle, were looking down in disgust. For a franchise that’s known as The Bronx Bombers Soto’s trot was a bust. Even legendary bean ballers Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale were probably pleading to God for one more day on this Earth, so they can face Soto in his next at bat.
This seven-year veteran is using his Bronx playground for the riches he expects to gain on his next contract. To pay this clown more than their current Captain would be a total slap in the face, the way Soto slapped Yankee Pride on this night.
Whoever runs the Yankees these days needs to be reminded that this clown turned down 450 million dollars by his original team, the Washington Nationals. Once the 2024 season comes to a close it will be time to say “goodbye bro” to Soto the Bozo.
