ANAHEIM, Calif. — Since taking over as the Mets’ starting shortstop, Ronny Mauricio has found himself frequently struggling at the plate. His debut as shortstop was marked by a series of strikeouts, a trend that continued into his initial at-bat against the Angels on Friday, which ended with an inning-ending double play.

Despite these challenges, the Mets remain invested in Mauricio, largely due to his impressive raw power. That potential was on full display during the seventh inning, when Mauricio launched a crucial tiebreaking home run, propelling the Mets to a 4-3 win and snapping their two-game losing streak.

On the same day that the team’s president of baseball operations, David Stearns, announced his continued support for manager Carlos Mendoza amidst the team’s struggles, the Mets saw a solid performance from pitcher Christian Scott. The team overcame a three-run deficit in the sixth inning, with Mauricio’s powerful hit in the seventh proving decisive.

Mauricio’s homer came off a 1-1 fastball from Jose Fermin, rocketing out of the park with an impressive exit velocity of 111.3 mph. This marked Mauricio’s first home run of the season, a significant moment since he stepped in as the starting shortstop following Francisco Lindor’s move to the injured list due to a left calf strain, which could keep Lindor off the field for an extended period.

Mauricio crushed a 1-1 fastball from Jose Fermin, with a 111.3 mph exit velocity, for his first homer this season. Mauricio became the starter at shortstop last week when Francisco Lindor was placed on the injured list with a left calf strain that could keep him sidelined for months. 

Mauricio began the day with a .192/.192/.192 slash line with 10 strikeouts in 26 at-bats. 

The Mets bullpen handled the rest. Brooks Raley worked a scoreless seventh and Luke Weaver gained some redemption for his blown save a day earlier with a perfect eighth. Devin Williams got the final three outs for the save, signaling the conclusion of a six-game road losing streak. 

In an improved performance from his season debut last week, Scott allowed three runs, one unearned, on three hits with eight strikeouts over five innings. Scott was removed at 74 pitches, preventing the Angels from facing him a third time through the batting order. Scott struggled with control last week against the Twins and was removed after walking five batters over 1 ¹/₃ innings. 

Scott threw a high sweeper that Jorge Soler launched for a two-run homer in the first inning, placing the Mets in an immediate hole. Mike Trout singled in the inning before, with two outs, Soler hit a no-doubter over the left field fence. 

Zach Neto got drilled by Scott leading off the third and stole second. When Neto later attempted to steal third, Francisco Alvarez unleashed a throw that sailed into left field, allowing the Angels to score their third run. 

The Mets loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth against Walbert Urena, but Marcus Semien was retired on a fly to right after working a full count. Bo Bichette singled leading off and Juan Soto and Brett Baty each walked. MJ Melendez and Alvarez each struck out with Bichette in scoring position. 

Urena was knocked out in the sixth on Bichette’s line drive that struck his right leg and caromed for a leadoff single. Urena, who crumpled to the ground, attempted to remain in the game, but was physically unable.

Brent Suter entered and allowed singles to Soto and Alvarez, the latter of which pulled the Mets within 3-1. Semien’s two-run single with two outs tied it. 

Scott began rolling in the middle innings, retiring nine straight batters after he plunked Neto in the third. During that stretch, he struck out five, getting the Mets to a spot where Mendoza wouldn’t have to stretch out the bullpen. 

In a significant military move, the Pentagon revealed on Friday that President Donald Trump is set to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a key NATO partner, amid escalating tensions over the conflict with Iran.

This decision follows a warning from Trump earlier in the week, after a public disagreement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz had criticized the ongoing US-Iran negotiations, expressing doubts about Washington’s strategy and claiming that the US was being outmaneuvered by Iran in efforts to resolve the two-month-old conflict.

In response, Trump launched a verbal attack on Merz, accusing him of poor leadership and highlighting Germany’s challenges with Ukraine as a major concern.

An unnamed senior official from the Pentagon described Germany’s recent comments as “inappropriate and unhelpful,” suggesting they had provoked the President’s decision.

“The president is responding appropriately to these unconstructive remarks,” the official stated.

The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to ⁠12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty U.S. military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe.

The official said the drawdown would ​bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a buildup by then-President Joe Biden.

The official ​also cast the decision in terms of the Trump administration’s push for Europe to become the main security provider on the continent. 

But it is nonetheless another potent reminder of Trump’s willingness to respond to perceived disloyalty by allies.

Donald Trump is pulling 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran ‌war widens between the President and Europe

Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (pictured)

Reuters exclusively reported last week an internal Pentagon email that outlined options to punish NATO allies that ​Washington believes failed to support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing the US position on ​Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

Trump has singled out Germany even as he has chastised other NATO allies for not sending their navies to ‌help open ⁠the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict. 

The waterway, a chokepoint for global oil shipments, has remained virtually shut, causing market turmoil and unprecedented disruption in energy supplies.

Merz has said Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the US and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28, and that he had conveyed his skepticism about the conflict directly to Trump afterwards.

‘The president has been very clear about his frustrations about our ​allies’ rhetoric and failure to provide ​support for US operations that benefit ⁠them,’ the senior Pentagon official said.

The President has long wanted to reduce the US troop presence in Germany. He pushed for a reduction at the end of his first term, but that cut was never enacted. ​

Trump lost the election and Biden reversed the plan.

The President’s Wednesday announcement that he was reviewing US troop ​levels in Germany ⁠surprised German military officials who spoke to Reuters, citing what they called constructive meetings at the Pentagon earlier in the day.

Members of the U.S. Army 7th Army Training Command in Germany

The President has long wanted to reduce the US troop presence in Germany. He pushed for a reduction at the end of his first term, but that cut was never enacted

They argue that Germany has done more than other allies to support the US war in Iran, including allowing the use of bases and giving permission for overflights. 

Germany is ⁠also home ​to a huge military hospital in Landstuhl.

As part of Trump’s withdrawal decision, a brigade ​combat team now in Germany will be pulled out of the country and a long-range fires battalion that the Biden administration had planned to begin deploying to Germany later ​this year will no longer deploy, the official said.

Trump earlier this week said on social media that the chancellor ‘wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon.’

He continued his attack on Thursday in a Truth Social post, claiming Merz should ‘spend more time ending the war with Russia/Ukraine’ and ‘fixing his broken Country.’

The US President added that the Chancellor should spend ‘less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat.’

At a speech on Monday, Merz had said: ‘An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.’

The Chancellor proceeded to criticise Washington for having no clear exit strategy in the Iran war, reiterating that Germany had not been consulted before US-Israeli attacks and that he had conveyed his skepticism directly to Trump afterwards.

‘If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,’ Merz said.

In a significant law enforcement effort, Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd has highlighted the arrest of an illegal immigrant, a participant in the January 6th Capitol breach, and a social media influencer. This comes after an extensive undercover operation that led to 266 arrests related to prostitution, human trafficking, and targeting child predators.

During a press conference on Friday, Sheriff Judd offered a candid account of what he described as some of the “more outrageous events” uncovered during the collaborative operation dubbed “Polk Around and Find Out.” The operation involved multiple agencies working together to tackle these serious crimes.

“In total, we made 266 arrests,” Sheriff Judd reported, noting that “about 247 of them were part of the human trafficking operation.” He further explained that the suspects collectively had “1,028 previous charges,” to which deputies have now added “439 more charges.”

This multi-day sting in central Florida aimed at human trafficking, prostitution, and child exploitation suspects, resulted in apprehensions spanning across 11 states and 18 different countries.

Deputies arrested people from 11 states and 18 different countries.

“People that think, ‘Oh, this is low-level and not violent’ — yeah, that’s wrong. It is violent, and it’s dangerous,” Judd said.

Among those highlighted was Ryan Yates, of Odessa, Florida, who had previously been convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and later pardoned, Judd said.

“He got away with it with a federal system. But not here,” Judd said. “He came here to violate the law. We arrested him.”

At a news conference Friday, Sheriff Grady Judd highlighted several suspects, including Craig Long II, 41. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

Judd also singled out Craig Long II, 41, a Tampa-area fitness business owner and a self-proclaimed “MAGA influencer.” 

On X, Long describes himself as “MAGA to the core.”

“Well, I’m going to give him some content for his social media today. He was a previous felon who straightened up, really, what we want to see in life. Now he’s an influencer,” Judd said.

Another case involved Uno Garcia, an illegal immigrant from Cuba. Judd said Garcia brought his wife to engage in prostitution.

“So, it’s kind of a family affair,” Judd said.

Shannon Brooks of Haines City, Florida, allegedly brought a 7-year-old into a room during a sexual encounter and left the child in a bathroom.

Judd said Brooks told the child, “Don’t answer the mf-ing phone. This is the kind of parenting that we want? Come on, man. What are you doing?”

In another case, Derek Partita, 37, left a 10-year-old child in a car while attempting to meet a prostitute.

“This is a very sad situation,” Judd said.

Judd also pointed to J.R. Jackman, 27, who he said had a high-level military security clearance.

“Don’t you feel comfortable knowing a guy with top security clearance is coming to meet a prostitute?” Judd said.

Another suspect, Salvador Villarel, a county utilities employee, allegedly arrived in a government vehicle.

“He doesn’t have the county truck. He doesn’t have the county job. But he does have the county jail,” Judd said.

Of the total arrests, 247 were related to prostitution and human trafficking investigations, including suspects accused of soliciting sex, offering to commit prostitution or aiding and transporting sex workers. Another 19 suspects were arrested on charges related to child exploitation, including traveling to meet minors for sex. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities said 247 of the arrests were for prostitution-related offenses, while 19 involved suspects accused of attempting to meet minors for sex. They added that 34 of those arrested were in the U.S. illegally.

The operation involved federal, state and local agencies and is part of ongoing efforts to target both buyers and facilitators in prostitution networks, officials said. Cases remain pending.

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Chase Claypool is making another attempt to reignite his NFL career.

After being absent from the field since January 2024, Claypool is currently trying to make a comeback by participating in the Green Bay Packers’ rookie minicamp. His involvement is on a tryout basis, providing him a fresh opportunity to leave a mark on an NFL team.

This two-day minicamp represents the 27-year-old’s first chance to demonstrate his potential and secure a spot back in the league.

“He’s shown some impressive performances on film,” commented Packers head coach Matt LaFleur to reporters, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s been productive, appears to be in excellent shape, and he’s got size on his side. We’ll see how things unfold.”

Claypool’s journey to this point comes after a hiatus during the 2025 season, following his release from the Buffalo Bills. His departure was due to a toe injury that occurred during their training camp the previous year.

In July 2025, Claypool announced his intentions to make an NFL comeback in a post on social media.

“I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year,” Claypool said on Instagram. “I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves.

“I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years.”

Following a standout college career at Notre Dame, Claypool was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and spent parts of his first three professional seasons in Pittsburgh.

Claypool immediately made an impact on the Steelers in his rookie season, racking up 873 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions.

He slightly regressed during the following seasons, however, before being traded to the Bears midway through the 2022 season.

Less than a year later, the Bears sent Claypool off to the Dolphins early in 2023.

Sharyn Alfonsi, a seasoned correspondent for 60 Minutes, recently used a prestigious awards platform to voice concerns about what she perceives as ‘editorial fear’ within her own newsroom. This critique arose after a delay in airing her report on a controversial prison in El Salvador.

Alfonsi, who has been a prominent figure on the flagship broadcast, linked the decision to postpone her segment to the leadership under CBS News head Bari Weiss. Her remarks were made during the Ridenhour Prize for Courage ceremony held at the National Press Club, where she openly discussed the tensions following the last-minute withdrawal of her piece on El Salvador’s CECOT prison.

Addressing the audience, Alfonsi stated, “I will not dwell on the internal dynamics at CBS that resulted in our CECOT story being pulled, but we must acknowledge what this situation signifies.”

She continued, “This wasn’t merely an isolated editorial dispute. From my perspective, it stems from a broader issue: the increasing influence of corporate intervention and the pervasive spread of editorial fear. It’s difficult to witness.”

‘It wasn’t an isolated editorial argument. In my view, it was the result of a more aggressive contagion: the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear. It’s hard to watch.’

The remarks are one of the most pointed public criticisms yet from within the storied news program, which has been under scrutiny following editorial disputes tied to coverage of the Trump administration.

Alfonsi’s report centered on Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison.

It had been scheduled to air in December but was halted. According to network leadership, the segment required additional reporting, including efforts to secure an on-camera response from Trump administration officials. 

Sharyn Alfonsi received the Ridenhour Prize for Courage at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. In her speech, Alfonsi warned about ‘the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear’ in the news industry

Her comments followed the postponement of her report on El Salvador’s CECOT prison. The segment focused on Venezuelan migrants deported under the Donald Trump administration

Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss said the segment needed additional reporting and more perspective from government officials 

Alfonsi has always maintained the reporting was complete and accurate.

Speaking candidly, she confirmed she had been asked to pursue an interview with a government official before the broadcast – a request she ultimately declined.

‘Not because I’m a pain in the ass, which I am, but because the story was factually correct, and I argued that any change to it might reflect poorly on CBS and 60 Minutes,’ she said.

The segment was eventually broadcast weeks later, in January, without an on-air interview from a White House representative.

But the delay, and the fight behind it, left a lasting impact on Alfonsi, who told the audience she feared viewers would interpret any alterations as editorial compromise.

‘Because our audience is smart, they would view any change to the story as capitulation or censorship,’ she said.

‘Fear is a funny thing – it can paralyze you, or it can point you to exactly what needs to be protected,’ Alfonsi said.

‘Right now, our industry is afraid of the wrong things. We’re afraid of offending power. We’re afraid of losing access. We’re afraid of another baseless lawsuit. 

‘But what we should all be afraid of is silence. Because as I learned [at my first job as a waitress], is there’s a fine line between being a team player and being an accomplice.’

The report centered on migrants sent to El Salvador’s CECOT, a maximum-security prison known for harsh conditions.

Weiss had requested numerous changes to the segment before it was pulled from the program

Though she did not name Weiss directly in her remarks, tensions surrounding the CBS News chief were evident.

Earlier in the evening, attendees are said to have booed when Weiss was mentioned by another speaker.

The conflict between Weiss and Alfonsi dates back to December, when she criticized the decision to pull her report just hours before airtime. 

In communications to colleagues at the time, she argued that requiring government participation to air a story risked giving officials undue control over journalism.

‘If the standard for airing a story becomes ‘the government must agree to be interviewed,’ then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast,’ she wrote in a message to fellow correspondents.

She warned that such a shift could transform the program from an investigative institution into ‘a stenographer for the state.’

Weiss has publicly rejected claims of political interference, stating that holding stories for further reporting is routine editorial practice. 

She has said her role is to ensure coverage is as complete and balanced as possible before airing.

Still, Alfonsi’s speech suggested that the dispute went far beyond a single editorial decision.

‘Some executives are asking not, ‘Is the story true?’ but, ‘Is it good for business?’ she said.

Sharyn Alfonsi is a veteran reporter who has worked on 60 Minutes since 2015

The report was originally scheduled to air in December but was pulled shortly before broadcast

In an internal memo to colleagues at 60 Minutes, Sharyn Alfonsi sharply criticized the decision to pull her segment just hours before airtime

The veteran journalist also revealed the personal toll of the confrontation, acknowledging uncertainty about her future at the network. Her contract is said to terminate at the end of May.

‘My hope recently has been that I still have a job,’ she said. ‘And every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired.’

At one point, she described the intense stress surrounding the episode, saying her producers had ‘offered to hold [her] hair when [she] was so nervous she was puking about what [she] had done.’

She also disclosed that a SWAT team was dispatched to her home days after the segment was paused – an incident she interpreted as intimidation.

‘I guess they were trying to scare me into silence,’ she said.

The clash spilled into newsroom meetings as well. 

During a January editorial discussion, Alfonsi confronted senior staff, at one point telling a top deputy, ‘You don’t get to produce me!’ and accusing him of acting as a ‘mouthpiece’ for the Trump administration.

The controversy has unfolded against a backdrop of broader upheaval at CBS News, including leadership changes and ongoing debates about editorial direction under new ownership.