Fans are the life of the game, but what Max Muncy felt in Yankee Stadium was something different. The Dodgers won the World Series at Yankee Stadium, and naturally, Yankees fans were heartbroken after the loss. The World Series finale saw its fair share of drama, especially in the fifth inning – the Yankees jumped to a 5-0 lead, but the Dodgers stormed back in the fifth inning, scoring six runs to tie it up.

However, even before the game had started, Muncy noted a change in the stadium’s expected atmosphere. After a brief 6-6 tie, L.A. added another run to go ahead 7-6, holding on for the win. But what Max Muncy noticed was the Yankees fans’ unconventional vibe as he shared his thoughts later in a recent episode of the Foul Territory podcast. Muncy vividly reflected on the atmosphere of Yankee Stadium during the World Series finale, witnessing the fans exude a “weird” energy.

Max Muncy points out unconventional ‘fan energy’ at the finale

Down 5-0 with Gerrit Cole on the mound, the Dodgers’ hopes were low, but then came the turning point: Aaron Judge dropped a fly ball. The Dodgers pounced on the opportunity, scoring six runs in the inning. Even though the Yankees regained the lead for some time with a Giancarlo Stanton pop-fly, the Dodgers fired back with two more runs. Speaking on the Foul Territory podcast, Max Muncy noted feeling eerie about the energy in the stadium. “It was very weird,” Muncy said, adding, “It was almost like they were waiting for… the mess-up to happen. I had never played at Yankee Stadium before, that was actually my first time going there”. 

Despite the intense pressure and the Yankees’ early 5-0 lead, the Dodgers did find a way to flip the script and win. “The biggest thing to me, and I told all the guys this, was that the energy in the stadium was very weird,” Muncy further revealed. The Dodgers capitalized on their rival’s mistakes – they know all too well the sting of missed opportunities – in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, the team’s lineup had gone silent after Teoscar Hernández’s third-inning grand slam. But for Yankees fans, the heartbreak in Game 5 of the World Series was on another level. Now, they are trying their best to win next season with the pursuit of Juan Soto.

New York is going for Juan Soto  

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is reportedly flying out to California within the next two weeks to court Juan Soto’s agent, Scott Boras. Reports are that even the Met’s owner is doing the same. Sure, the idea of Soto in New York is tantalizing. At just 26 years old, Soto is already a generational talent, and his numbers this season with the Yankees were staggering. Not to mention his clutch three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 that essentially sealed the ALCS for the Yankees.  

But while it’s nice to dream of Soto in pinstripes or in Queens, both teams have glaring needs that go beyond just adding a superstar bat. The Yankees may have made it to the ALCS, but their defense was shaky at times, and their lineup, still has too many holes. The Mets, on the other hand, have their own uphill battle. Adding Soto would be a huge statement, but they also need to figure out how to bounce back from another underwhelming postseason showing.

So, sure the Mets and the Yankees are in an all-out Soto dogfight, and may the best team win – but before either side starts planning their championship parade, it might be worth taking a step back and making sure they’re solid across the board. Adding a star like Soto is great, but building a championship-caliber team is what ultimately matters.