Before first baseman Pete Alonso emerged as the most valuable player for a New York Mets team that entered Tuesday with the best record in the National League (42-24), he endured plenty of lows across the previous two seasons.
During a recent conversation with Laura Albanese of Newsday, Alonso opened up about what went wrong for him during some plate appearances in 2023 and 2024.
"After 2023 and in 2024, I didn’t necessarily feel like myself," Alonso admitted. "I was kind of teeter-tottering all year...I want to be able to feel like myself on a consistent basis. I don’t want to go through times where I’m trying to figure it out, where I don’t 100 percent feel like I want to feel [regardless] of the results. I want to feel good. I want to feel confident in my game plan. A lot of hard work has gone into working and holding on to good mechanics."
Alonso reportedly rejected a seven-year, $158M contract extension offer from the Mets during the 2023 season. While he ended that campaign with 46 home runs and 118 RBI, he also hit just .217. He then slashed .240/.329/.459 with a .788 OPS, 34 homers and 88 RBI over 162 regular-season games before he reached free agency last year.
Alonso turned 30 years old this past December and found throughout the offseason that the market for his services wasn't as robust as he had hoped. In the end, he signed a two-year, $54M contract with a player opt-out after this season to stay with the Mets.
Along with making tweaks regarding his body position inside the batter's box, Alonso has also used added research to help him find success throughout this spring. Per ESPN stats, the "Polar Bear" began Tuesday leading all of MLB with 61 RBI on the season. Over his first 66 games of the campaign, he slashed .301/.396/.594. with a .990 OPS and 17 home runs.
"It’s trusting my studying...trusting my swing and staying consistent in my mechanics [and] the efficiency of my mechanics," Alonso said. "The mechanics in past years weren’t necessarily as clean. There was a lot of wasted movement."
Fair or not, the perception existed that Alonso pressed at the plate throughout 2024 for reasons related to uncertainty about his future. He could soon face a different type of pressure if he remains hot and the Mets stay atop the NL standings through the All-Star break. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Alonso seventh among the betting favorites at +3000 odds to claim the NL Most Valuable Player Award for this season.
Alonso sounds ready to fight off the type of swoon that impacted him last summer.
"I definitely feel comfortable, but at the same time, you can’t really feel too comfortable because comfort builds complacency," Alonso added. "For me, [the key] definitely has been being more prepared, being more self-aware of myself and my swing and my ability. I definitely think that’s the maturation process in the big leagues."
Alonso and the Mets open a three-game home series versus the Washington Nationals (30-35) on Tuesday evening.
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After a crushing 12–5 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, the New York Yankees made a pair of roster changes aimed at strengthening a bullpen that surrendered 10 earned runs in the loss. Right-handed reliever Scott Effross and infielder Jorbit Vivas were both optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, clearing space for immediate reinforcements. Effross, 31, bore the brunt of the damage late in the game. Entering in the ninth inning with the Yankees trailing 8–5, he gave up four runs on four hits, failing to record the shutdown frame the team desperately needed. His ERA ballooned from 5.59 to 8.44 after the outing. Across 11 appearances in 2025, Effross has allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 10.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. The outing proved costly, both in the game and for his place on the roster. Vivas, 24, didn’t fare much better this season. Used sparingly, he appeared in 29 games while slashing .161/.266/.250 with one home run and five RBIs. He entered Friday’s game as a late substitution at third base and flew out in his lone plate appearance. In their place, the Yankees activated third baseman Ryan McMahon, acquired earlier in the day from the Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old 2024 All-Star brings experience and a needed defensive upgrade to the hot corner. Through 100 games this season, McMahon is hitting .217 with a .314 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage, while adding 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. Discussing McMahon’s fit with the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt celebrated the addition, noting how exciting he fits within New York’s defensive identity. “He’s a really good player, great defender,” Goldschmidt said of McMahon. “He’s a good hitter, and he’s going to help us.” Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that McMahon would be active for Saturday’s matchup against the Phillies. The Yankees, currently 56–47, trail the Phillies, who improved to 59–44 with Friday’s win. Boone also acknowledged the bullpen’s ongoing struggles. The relief corps entered Friday ranked 20th in the league with a 4.07 ERA and has been thinned by injuries to Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz, and Ryan Yarbrough. With Clarke Schmidt out for the season and Luis Gil still recovering, reinforcements are expected before the July 31 trade deadline. The Yankees are expected to call up a fresh arm Saturday morning. Whether that move stabilizes the bullpen or not, more changes could be imminent.
Having been in an on and off relationship for over two years, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas are quite familiar with each other and their families. It comes as no surprise when the Spanish WTA star appeared to be in agreement with a statement by former player Ivan Ljubicic, where the Croat urged parents of tennis stars to focus less on tennis and more on raising their kids. The high-profile couple made their relationship public in May 2023, and were seen at each other's matches. A year later, they would take to social media to announce they had split ways, only to get back together three weeks later. Known for his volatility on the court, Tsitsipas would engage in a rather heated exchange with his father Apostolos during an opening round loss against Kei Nishikori at the 2024 Canadian Open. The elder Tsitsipas was acting as Stefanos coach at that point, and the Greek star would later take shots at his father in his post-match conference. However, Tsitsipas would later reveal he had apologized to his father soon after the incident. In an interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas stated both men had a long conversation, during which they aired their grievances and the former World No.3 admitted to apologizing to his dad. Badosa co-signs statement by Ljubicic "We discussed it, from my side I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part," said Tsitsipas to SDNA. "We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don't happen again and such tensions don't arise again." Ivan Ljubicic, former player who would later coach Roger Federer during the tail end of his career, would chime in on the role of tennis parents, a day after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. "Following last night, second note to parents: your role is CRUCIAL," said Ljubicic. "Your responsibility is to build independent, responsible, strong human beings. Let the professionals do their job, make sure they have all they need. I promise that this is the best formula." Soon after Tsitsipas' interview with SDNA was published, Badosa would return to Ljubicic's post and express her support. "Soooo good ", wrote the Spanish WTA star on Twitter. Although Badosa did not mention Apostolos specifically, the elder Tsitsipas has received backlash for being overbearing towards Stefanos.
Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ton of question marks surrounding the roster heading into the 2025 NFL season. There are plenty of proven players on the team, but some are past their prime and there is the general question of how everything on the roster will gel together. The defense is the highest-paid unit in the NFL for the fourth straight season, so fans are fairly confident that the group will be able to play like one of the best defenses in the league, but there is some worry about the offense. The offense has struggled in recent years, and everyone in Pittsburgh is hoping that changes in 2025. A big mystery for the Steelers is how quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to perform during the 2025 season, especially with the wide receiver group he is working with. His chemistry with DK Metcalf seems to be improving, but outside of Metcalf, the receiver group is fairly bleak. Another factor in Rodgers' performance is going to be the offensive line, which is made up of a lot of young pieces. There is a lot to be worried about with the line, but insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday to discuss a bright spot. "[Mason] McCormick, I think his ceiling is unlimited," Kaboly said. "I think he's really, really good." Mason McCormick was a big surprise for the Steelers during the 2024 season. The team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was not expected to see much playing time. However, James Daniels went down early in the year with a season-ending injury, and McCormick was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard. He played well throughout the season, and he got better as the year went along. If everything goes according to plan, it seems as though the Steelers have solidified the right side of the offensive line for years to come. Zach Frazier is shaping up to be one of the best centers in the NFL, McCormick is expected to turn into a potential Pro Bowl player, and hopes are high for second-year right tackle Troy Fautanu, who only played in one game during the 2024 season due to a knee injury. This gives Pittsburgh an advantage when it comes to running to that side, and it can make Rodgers feel comfortable in the pocket. It has been reported that the coaching staff in Pittsburgh believes Fautanu could be the team's best offensive lineman, which is high praise considering what Frazier did during his rookie season in 2024. McCormick could also join that conversation eventually after Kaboly's comments, but either way, that is something the fan base should be extremely happy with, considering the franchise drafted him in the fourth round. Steelers' Potential At Offensive Line Will Rely On The Production Of Broderick Jones Pittsburgh drafted Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and his career has been a rollercoaster so far. He was drafted to be a left tackle, but he wound up playing his first two seasons on the right side of the line. He looked shaky at times, and he struggled with penalties. He is now being moved to his natural position at left tackle, which will hopefully change things. The team is relying on him to take a step forward, and if he doesn't, the offensive line could look ugly in 2025. Nearly every great team in the league has a reliable left tackle, and Pittsburgh is still struggling to find that.