LSU Tigers at Florida Gators Game Preview
Francona’s Return to Managing Pays Dividends for Low-Budget Reds
SAN DIEGO – Last year at this time, Terry Francona didn’t have a care in the world. He was one year into his retirement after 23 years of managing in Major League Baseball and loving it.
“It was wonderful,” the man, who’s nicknamed Tito after his ballplaying father of the same name, said this week during several interviews at Petco Park. “I had no intention of coming back. I was thinking about what I wanted to do, because I was doing nothing. But I was not thinking about managing.”
More from Sportico.com
Then, the Cincinnati Reds came calling, and that all changed.
“They flew out to talk to me in my rocking chair,” Francona, 66, said. “It just seemed right.”
A year ago, the Reds lost 85 games, and incumbent manager David Bell was fired before the season was over. With less than three weeks to go in this regular season, the team’s current 74-72 record is a significant improvement. They’d have to go 3-13 in their final 16 games to match last season’s record. It could happen but probably not.
Same goes for making the playoffs—the team is two games behind the New York Mets, who hold the National League’s last wild-card spot, tied with the San Francisco Giants. It could happen but maybe not.
It wouldn’t surprise San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, though, if they do it with Tito managing the team.
“Winners win,” Shildt said Wednesday night after the Reds came from behind for a 2-1 victory to take the last two of the three games in the series here.
This season, Francona has done what he does best: take a low-payroll team and exceed expectations. The Reds have a luxury-tax payroll of $140.8 million, 22nd in the league and fourth in their own NL Central. In 11 seasons managing Cleveland, he dwelled in baseball’s bargain basement and still made the postseason six times, a stark departure from the Boston Red Sox, which spared no expense when building the Francona teams that won the World Series in 2004 and 2007. His Indians lost to the Chicago Cubs in a thrilling seven-game 2016 Fall Classic.
Francona said he doesn’t mind dealing with the low payroll as long as he has some autonomy over decisions on the field.
“I’m at an age where doing it in a place I prefer is probably more meaningful than having a high payroll,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been treated great. Nobody ever tells me what lineup to make out or things like that. I don’t mind input, but I’m probably too old for that.”
The Reds are generally a faceless team save for Elly De La Cruz, one of MLB’s best young players, but finishing his third season earning a scant $770,000, just $10,000 above the league minimum. He has 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases, but hasn’t hit a homer since July 31. He had the game-tying eighth inning single Wednesday night.
The Reds don’t have a player on the team with more homers than De La Cruz, which makes what they’re doing more remarkable. But they claim to be having a having a great time playing for Francona.
Earlier in the season, the team celebrated Francona’s 2,000th win as a manager. At 2,024 he’s 12th on the all-time list. There are only 13 managers above 2,000, and Francona is second among active managers behind Bruce Bochy (2,248), who has the Texas Rangers in the playoff hunt.
“It’s been special playing for Tito,” Reds starter Hunter Greene said in an interview. “His reputation speaks for itself. He’s deeply entrenched in the baseball world and its history. To be as young as I am and to have his leadership is pretty special to me.”
Baseball needs the old, crusty managers like Francona, Bochy and Ron Washington. They offer expertise and experience, having made decades of in-game decisions under myriad circumstances. Though they’ve adapted to changes like the three-batter minimum rule for a relief pitcher—“I was told the reason that put that in was because of me,” Francona said—they tend to emphasis basics like defense and proper base-running.
To that point, Francona had first base coach Colin Cowgill going over some drills on the right way to run bases, relayed outfielder Austin Hays.
And then there’s Francona’s self-deprecating sense of humor. Cowgill finished up by presenting a video saying, “Tito wanted me to put this on here showing what not to do.”
The video showed Tito as a player going from first to third stumbling around the bases. “He wound up eating it about 15 feet before getting to the [third base] bag,” Hays said. “We all got a good laugh out of it.” Francona had a promising career as an outfielder derailed because of injuries to both knees, which have since been replaced. In 1984 for the old Montreal Expos, he batted .346 with a 136 OPS+. He later joked that he probably couldn’t have played for the Red Sox team he managed because of his low .300 career on-base percentage, a staple of modern day analytics.
Francona said that’s the key to getting the most out of a young team like the Reds. Keep it light, but make your point.
“It’s my responsibility to take the parameters and see how good we can get,” he said. “That’s why I never bitch about what our payroll is. That’s not my responsibility. It’s my responsibility to see how much I can get from our players. Sometimes we do better than others.”
Right now, the Reds are doing just fine.
Best of Sportico.com
Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EFL in talks over expanding Championship playoffs to six teams
EFL wants to add National League-style eliminator
Plan could be expanded to Leagues One and Two
The English Football League is in talks over adding an eliminator round to the Championship playoffs and increasing the number of participants from four to six.
The proposal is a similar format to the one used by the National League. In the Championship the team that finish fifth would play the eighth-placed team and sixth would meet seventh in one-off ties at the higher-ranked team’s home stadium.
Continue reading...Henrik Zetterberg Discusses His New Advisory Role with Timrå in Sweden
Yesterday it was announced that former Red Wings player Henrik Zetterberg is returning to his childhood club Timrå IK as an advisor. The news created a lot of excitement in Sweden, and Zetterberg did several interviews throughout the day following his appointment to the new role. Among others, Henrik spoke with the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The original interview can be found here.
After spending a year in Detroit following the end of his playing career, Zetterberg has settled down in Sweden. He has made his home in the south of the country and has lived a quiet life in the years since retiring from hockey. Gaining more attention is not the purpose of his new role, and the humble Zetterberg said that the attention wasn’t something he was seeking when the role was announced.
“It’s not the public attention I’m seeking by taking on this role as an advisor. I’ve actually had this role for about a year now in Timrå, but we haven’t really made much of it publicly. I love hockey and have a strong connection to Timrå. Now we’ll be a team working to push Timrå forward, and I’ll focus on being a sounding board for young players and their coaches in the club to help them develop. I’ll also continue supporting Kent Norberg (GM of Timrå) with thoughts and opinions on potential signings. It’ll be fun to see what kind of development we can achieve together,” says Henrik Zetterberg.
Several of his former Detroit teammates have gone on to start careers in management and coaching. Zetterberg was asked about his future plans and whether a role as a sporting director or GM is something he envisions down the line. However, he was quick to play down those speculations.
“I have no plans to take over after ‘Nubben’ (current GM at Timrå) that’s not something I’m thinking about at all. I want him to stay in Timrå forever, and I think he’s doing a fantastic job. My passion lies in helping younger players make the same journey that I once did.”
Henrik Zetterberg was also asked about his connection with the Red Wings and whether he might use his current role to help Detroit. His former captain and fellow Swede Nicklas Lidström is also based in Sweden while serving as Detroit’s Vice President of Hockey Operations. The connection to Detroit is still there, but there is no official collaboration between Zetterberg and his former club at this point.
“Of course I’ll probably have thoughts and questions during the season. I have people around me who have worked in hockey and have a lot of experience. Almost everyone on the Red Wings staff today are my former teammates, and I feel like I always represent Detroit since I played there for so many years. But we’ll see how that can help me in my professional role.”
Finally, Zetterberg was asked how he expects Timrå to perform this season. The team has lost valuable pieces during the offseason, including Filip Hållander and Oliver Kapanen, who have both left for the NHL.
“There’s no denying that losing Filip Hållander and Oliver Kapanen is a big blow for the club. They did a lot for the team last season. But we have other guys who are very talented and maybe flew a bit under the radar last year. Now it’s up to them to take the lead and push the club forward. Timrå is in a good position to surprise, but they might not be a top team just yet. There are many strong top teams. I don’t need to name them, it’s obvious who they are.”
Oliver Kapanen played 18 games for the Montreal Canadiens last season but returned to Timrå on loan. The season was a success for Kapanen, who recorded 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games. It’s an impressive points tally in the defensively minded SHL.
Filip Hållander returns to Pittsburgh with the ambition of earning a roster spot with the Penguins. He has played in three NHL games for Pittsburgh and has also appeared in 104 AHL games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Swedish center is coming off a brilliant SHL season, finishing second in the league in both goals and points with 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games for Timrå.
Ex-Maple Leafs Prospect Fraser Minten To Participate In Bruins Rookie Tournament Despite Ending Last Season In NHL
Despite having 25 games of NHL experience over two seasons, Fraser Minten was announced as part of the Boston Bruinsrookie tournament roster this week. Speaking to reporters at Warrior Ice Arena, Minten was asked how it came to be that he would take part in the tournament. It turns out Minten didn’t volunteer. He’s just following Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s orders.
“I got a phone call saying you will participate,” Minten said with a smile.
Fraser Minten is just following orders pic.twitter.com/3ICmmhuPPD
— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) September 10, 2025
Minten, originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with their first pick (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, impressed the club enough that he made Toronto's opening night roster during the 2023-24 season. He played in four games before being returned to the junior league. The following season, Minten looked more polished, putting up two goals and two assists in 15 games.
Fraser Minten's Remarkable Journey From Under the Radar Before Training Camp to the Maple Leafs' Opening Night RosterThe Maple Leafs didn't expect their second-round pick to make the team this year, but Fraser Minten's performance at training camp was hard to deny.
But as the Maple Leafs sought to add depth for a playoff push, the club traded Minten to Boston along with a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Brandon Carlo. As it became clear the Bruins weren’t destined for the postseason, they called up Minten. He played in six games and scored one goal.
'More Backcheck And There'll Be A Greater Paycheck': Maple Leafs React To Losing Players And Prospects On Trade Deadline DayDENVER — The Toronto Maple Leafs made some big moves ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade deadline. The Leafs acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins.
Minten didn’t take part in the development camp the Bruins held in the summer that featured a lot of prospects his age. Given he’s about to embark on his first training camp in Boston, he understood the reasoning for the early attendance.
“I haven’t been here for a while, even for me but for them they haven’t seen me play a ton as much as other guys,” Minten said. “It just gives them a chance to get a look at me and my game.”
A look at Boston's depth chart shows a third-line center spot ripe for the taking for Minten, the role he played in Toronto. As the Bruins go through a bit of a rebuild after eight consecutive seasons of being in the playoffs, the opportunity is there for the former Maple Leafs draft pick to take another step in his development.
Latest stories:
Easton Cowan Headlines Maple Leafs Roster For Prospects Showdown in Montreal, Schedule Of Games
Brad Marchand has long dreamed of playing for Team Canada at Winter Olympics
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is hopeful to do something next year that has been on his checklist for a long time.
The 37-year-old NHL veteran and future Hockey Hall of Famer wants to suit up for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Marchand was one of 26 forwards and 42 total players who were invited to Hockey Canada's Orientation Camp last month in Calgary.
He was also one of five Panthers players to receive an invite, along with forwards Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
The last time NHL players participated in the Olympic Games was in 2014 in Sochi.
Canada won gold, but Marchand was not there.
Like this year, Marchand was also part of that team’s orientation camp, but that was as far as his Olympic dream would go that year.
To say he’s been feeling the hunger to represent his country and compete for a gold medal in the time since would be an understatement.
"There's nothing I want more than to play for the Olympic team," Marchand said during last month’s camp in Calgary, per NHL.com. "That drive has been there since I went to that (orientation) camp in (2013) and didn't make that team. Since then, it's been my goal, my driving force every year, every summer. That's why I was so disappointed in '18 and then the next one. Everything I have done for the last 12 years has been for this tournament."
Now fully healthy and fresh off an incredible run with Florida during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as well as a strong showing for Team Canada at February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, Marchand is ready to make his Olympic dream come true.
If and when the opportunity comes, Marchand understands just how rare and unique a position it would be for him to find himself.
"I think you really understand how fragile these opportunities are," he said. "They're not a given. Even when you think you're going to go, it doesn't mean you're going. The last one we thought we were going for sure. It's the end of December, a month and a half before we're leaving, and it gets pulled from us. The one before that, someone's decision allows us to not go again. You could have an unbelievable NHL career and play for a very long time and not have an opportunity to play in these games."
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Sam Bennett shares Stanley Cup with Broward Humane Society, home to his Benny's Buddies charity
Panthers Captain Becomes Co-Owner Of Major League Pickleball Team
REPORT: Panthers Bring In Forward and Defender On PTOs
REPORT: Panthers Sign Veteran Winger To PTO
All 4 Florida Panthers 2025 postseason series clinching games to be re-aired by Scripps Sports
Photo caption: Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brad Marchand (63) skates during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)
Flyers Decline to Comment on Potential Carter Hart Reunion
In spite of recent reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are not prepared to comment on any potential reunion with or interest in former goalie Carter Hart.
On Wednesday, during their state of the franchise press conference, Flyers president Keith Jones and governor Dan Hilferty fielded questions on all things Flyers.
Hart, 27, was recently acquitted of sexual assault and is a free agent, though the NHL has not officially reinstated him or the other four players involved in the Hockey Canada trial in London, Ontario.
That's about as much as the Flyers know, too, despite a recent report that claimed they were one of many teams interested in the veteran goalie.
"Well, at this point, we're going to make no comment on that situation. The NHL's made it clear that they'll speak first. But, right now, we're not prepared to comment at all about the Carter Hart situation," Hilferty said. "The NHL has told us they are running the show."
Hilferty and Jones were specifically asked as to whether they would consider inquiring on Hart and if the Flyers were allowed to talk to their former player if reinstated, but Hilferty, with the answer quoted above, shut those questions down as reasonably as possible.
Flyers: Where Is Egor Zavragin?Top Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin has yet to play for his KHL club, SKA St. Petersburg, in the early goings of the 2025-26 season.
The Flyers already have a bit of a logjam working in goal anyway, with Sam Ersson and Dan Vladar expected to be the two main netminders on the NHL roster and Aleksei Kolosov and Ivan Fedotov working in behind them.
Plus, Hart is nearly two years removed from his last competitive hockey game and NHL appearance at this point, so any potential reunion, which already lies in the hands of the NHL, is not going to be straightforward.
Until the NHL makes its decision, the show will go on in Philadelphia, with Vladar debuting for the Flyers imminently and Ersson hoping for a return to form.
Ohio State greed could disrupt Big Ten, spark a college football super league
So, this is how Big Ten football withers. This is how college football’s super-conference structure dies. With an act of Ohio State greed.
Ohio State push on Big Ten revenue discussion is unique with bigger ramifications
The president of Ohio State talking about changes to the Big Ten revenue sharing model is a big difference than similar situations in other leagues.
Hot seat Billy Napier is back, and Florida finally has framework to fire coach
After years of stalling, Florida has framework to fire Billy Napier. Buyout is steep, but digestible. And, the university's leadership has clarity.
From Mardi Gras to Research Triangle: Darian Mensah’s reported $8M journey from Tulane to Duke
Darian Mensah left gumbo and Mardi Gras behind at Tulane to become QB at Duke. He returns to face the Green Wave on Saturday. Here's his tale.
College football quarterback rankings get shakeup after Week 2. Carson Beck leads
The expected top quarterbacks in college football are not near the top of our position rankings after Week 3.
How far will Ohio State go to get more Big Ten revenue? Lock arms with Michigan
Ohio State needs cash to cover the cost of sharing revenue with athletes. So they're potentially looking for other Big Ten schools to fork it over.
Ramp to Camp: Whose Celtics tribute video are you most looking forward to?
Ramp to Camp: Whose Celtics tribute video are you most looking forward to? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Watching the second apron force the Boston Celtics to break apart their championship core this summer wasn’t easy for anyone in the organization. But the department we felt most for? The video editors in charge of putting together all the tribute videos that will roll whenever a beloved player returns to TD Garden this season.
There should be at least four instances this winter where a hush falls over the Garden crowd and a 60-second montage of highlights from that player’s time in Boston will roll on the Jumbotron. Fans will roar for key moments, particularly when the Larry O’Brien Trophy or a parade shot is included, and some of the standing ovations will last longer than the videos themselves.
The Celtics’ video squad routinely crushes these assignments, and it’s fun to watch players on both teams take a break from the action to cherish the moment. There’s simply going to be a lot of them this season.
The good news for Boston’s video group: None of the returns occur in calendar year 2025, so there’s some time to work with. January could feature three returning heroes. Luke Kornet is slated to return with San Antonio on January 10; Jrue Holiday is expected back with Portland on January 26; and Kristaps Porzingis should travel here with Atlanta on January 28.
If and when Al Horford eventually signs with the Golden State Warriors, then he would return to TD Garden on March 18. You’ve got ample time to secure your tissues.
For Day 9 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick which tribute video they are most excited to watch at TD Garden this season.
If we’re being honest, we’re excited that each video ought to be a little different.
Good luck trying to distill all the hilarious moments from Kornet’s Boston tenure down to 60 (or even 90) seconds. A supercut of his best celebrations would eat up all the available time. Trying to shoehorn a witty soundbite or two would really put the video editors in a bind. But we suspect that video will feel like a smile-inducing celebration.
Holiday’s video will likely be a little bit more buttoned up, but ought to highlight just how vital he was to Boston’s 2024 postseason success. The key plays Holiday made in the Indiana series alone could fill the allotted time.
All we ask for with the Porzingis video is some sort of highly dramatic transition, maybe some black and white footage of him hobbling off the court against Miami, then flashing to his WWE-style walkout before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks. Goosebumps. We expect Porzingis to be smiling throughout the video and fans to roar at every opportunity. This one will feel like a party.
Then there’s Horford. How do you summarize his impact over seven seasons and two tenures in one TV timeout? Horford made Boston a destination for free agents when he signed here in 2016. He accelerated the development of multiple variations of this roster, routinely delivering this team to the Eastern Conference Finals before finally getting over the hump in 2024.
This will undoubtedly be the most emotional of the bunch. And if Horford’s son, Ean, is perched next to him on the visitor’s bench, it’s going to get dusty in the Garden real quick.
Maybe it’s fitting Horford would go last among returning players. While we’re excited for the smiles that Porzingis and Kornet will elicit, it’s unlikely anything can top the emotion that will flow when Horford returns.
Here’s what our panel had to say:
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
If we’re talking entertainment factor, it’s a tight race between Kristaps Porzingis (cue the WWE-style entrance!) and Luke Kornet. (Can we get another attack ad, Luke?)
But few Celtics have meant more to the organization over the last decade than Horford. I’m getting goosebumps now just thinking about the rousing ovation he’ll receive from the TD Garden faithful — even if he’s in a Warriors uniform.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
Al Horford’s should be the longest. They could do two tributes in two separate timeouts for his two tenures. Seeing Horford progress from the Isaiah Thomas era through the championship season will be the most stirring for everybody in attendance.
Porzingis’ will be the most electric. He might go nuts. Kornet’s will be the funniest. Holiday’s will be straightforward and solid. He’ll give a nice wave.
But Al’s will be the best.
Sean McGuire, Web Producer
It’s between Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford for me, but I’m going to give a slight edge to Porzingis.
I could see his allergies really acting up in late January, and I could see the Celtics-Hawks crowd that night trying to one-up the Celtics-Blazers crowd from two nights prior. Additionally, the cinematic photos of blood pouring from Porzingis’ head will never not be cool.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
Al Horford.
There is no better example of a professional than Horford. He has had an underrated career and has been such a key piece to the Celtics in both his tenures here. He isn’t flashy and the loudest voice in the room, but he may have been the most consistent.
His tribute will definitely tug on the heartstrings the most.
Jim Aberdale, Supervising Producer, Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis without a doubt.
He really took to the Boston experience and, in turn, the fans reciprocated. And it’s a lock he’ll come with some great soundbites — always appreciated by the crew creating the pregame and postgame shows.
Max Lederman, Content Producer
Al Horford was the first major free agent to ever sign with the Celtics. He added instant credibility to the team when he arrived and embraced the city and fans like he was born here.
His tribute video will almost certainly be the most emotional, and sometimes it’s good to cry.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
From a content standpoint, Luke Kornet for sure. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis will be fun. But I feel Al Horford deserves a truly emotional evening.
History will show that he was one of the most important players in Celtics history. He came here as a free agent and started to shift the tide on how other players viewed the organization. And Brad Stevens’ trade for Horford in 2021 that sent out Kemba Walker might be one of the great trades of all time. It gave you a leader and an overly productive big for a championship team while shedding money to make other key moves.
Horford defined professionalism and deserves the love from Celtics fans.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
Jrue Holiday, because he’s the one I was most disappointed to see go. A quiet assassin, he deserved a better ending than what the Second Apron forced upon him.
Leicestershire promoted, Nottinghamshire beat Worcs: county cricket – as it happened
Leicestershire up after draw, Notts win to set up heavyweight showdown with Surrey
Yorkshire are making a Horlicks of their first innings – Davey and Gregory have reduced them to 41-4, still trail by 400.
A couple of wickets at New Road – now will this get tasty? The busy McCann gone for 28 and Joe Clarke for a nine-ball duck. 74 needed and dot balls abounding.
Continue reading...