The Rays are used to uncertainty as they prepare for a regular season with home games at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the spring training base of the New York Yankees. It will mark the Tampa Bay Rays first ever season in Tampa.
“For us, this is what we’ve known,” Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex.
Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field on Oct. 9, leaving the stadium unusable for at least 2025. In addition, the Rays have until March 31 to commit with the city of St. Petersburg on a planned $1.3 billion stadium that likely would open in 2029 at the earliest.
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“We’ve had different types of uncertainty and questions hanging over our franchise for the entirety of the Rays era,” Neander said. “And we found a way to win the third most games in baseball and appear in a couple World Series. This is what we do. I think we do it pretty well.”
Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, and manager Kevin Cash said his team will be ready for the March 28 opener against Colorado. Steinbrenner, which has about 11,000 seats, is exposed to weather, unlike the Trop.
“There is an added element to it,” Cash said. “I’d like to think we’re going to have some time to build into that. Generally speaking, we’re going to have some pretty beautiful weather for the first month or two. We’ll have a little better understanding of who we are as a pitching group and as a team going into some of those hot summer months.
“Our players, I give them a lot of credit. They’re very aware. They’ve done a lot of work this offseason having that in the back of their mind. We’ve probably thrown more outdoor bullpens this year coming into camp than maybe we have in the past. We’ll do everything we can to adjust on the fly as needed.”
Tampa Bay was 28th among the 30 teams in home attendance last year at 1.3 million, ahead of only Oakland and Miami.
“From what I’ve heard with ticket sales, I know it’s a smaller venue, but it will be fun to see some packed houses,” Cash said. “Our players are going to appreciate that. Very thankful for the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, Hal (Steinbrenner). Top to bottom, that organization has been front line with the way they’ve communicated with every bit of our staff.”
Cash was sadden by the condition of Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton ravaged the area.
“First time I saw it, I was driving on (Interstate) 75. It was surreal,” Cash said. “When I saw it happen in the middle of the night, I didn’t think it was real. Your mind races a little bit, ‘What now? What now?’”
Tampa Bay went 80-82 last season, ending a streak of five straight postseason appearances.
“Our focus can stay very much right in front of us,” Neander said. “For our group, it’s an opportunity to galvanize ourselves around the circumstances and what’s in front of us. Our players are ready to go and they’re excited about it.”
Christian Pulisic of the United States is helped by team doctors after he scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Nabil Bentaleb made a dream return to professional football, scoring in Lille’s 2-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday in his first match since suffering a cardiac arrest last year. Bentaleb, who was once told his careNer might be over, capped off his remarkable comeback with a goal just four minutes after coming off the bench.
The 30-year-old Algerian international collapsed during a training session in June 2024, an incident that cast significant doubt over his footballing future. However, after months of recovery and with clearance from the French Football Federation last Wednesday, Bentaleb took to the pitch at Roazhon Park and delivered a moment that will live long in the memory of Lille fans.
“It’s worthy of a film,” said Lille boss Bruno Genesio. “He deserved it, because I don’t believe in luck; he believed in himself. It’s an incredible, wonderful story. Nabil’s goal put us on cloud nine. It could be a moment that will mark the end of our season, that will remain engraved in the history of the club, of this season – and in Nabil’s mind, of course.”
Bentaleb’s goal was followed by wild celebrations, with the midfielder sprinting towards the Lille bench to embrace his teammates and coaching staff. It was a moment of pure joy and triumph for a player who has endured a grueling eight-month rehabilitation period.
“I Visualized That Goal”
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Bentaleb shared his emotions about the experience.
“I trained on Thursday and knew I was physically ready to play. I didn’t know if I would come on, but I felt I was going to score. I just wanted to help the team. The coach put me in a more advanced position, and I visualized that goal.”
Bentaleb’s journey back to the pitch has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now fitted with a pacemaker to ensure his heart remains stable during matches, the Algerian midfielder has defied the odds to continue his career. His goal against Rennes not only helped Lille secure three crucial points but also sent a message of resilience and perseverance.
An Emotional Night for Lille and Nabil Bentaleb
The win lifted Lille to fifth place in Ligue 1, with Chuba Akpom sealing the result in the 86th minute. However, the night belonged to Bentaleb. The scenes in the Lille dressing room post-match were emotional, with players and staff alike overwhelmed by the significance of the moment.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said teammate Diakité to L’Équipe. “It goes beyond football—it’s the story of a lifetime.”
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier echoed those sentiments, while club president Olivier Létang was visibly emotional. “When you know what he has been through, this is truly a gift from God,” added Akpom.
A Career Rewritten
Bentaleb’s footballing journey has taken him across Europe, starting at Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, where he made 46 Premier League appearances. He then moved to Schalke, had a loan stint at Newcastle United, and later joined Angers before signing with Lille in 2023. His time at Lille was abruptly halted by the cardiac event, but his return has been nothing short of inspirational.
“This is why we play football,” Bentaleb said. “For eight months, I imagined this return, thinking about how I could help the team. I worked incredibly hard to get here. But the most important thing is my health. And of course, we got the three points.”
For Lille, the victory over Rennes might prove pivotal in their push for European qualification. For Bentaleb, it was the culmination of months of uncertainty, fear, and relentless dedication. His goal and the subsequent celebration were more than just footballing moments; they were a testament to the human spirit.
Stay updated on Ligue 1 and more by visiting Rant Sports and checking out the latest from Lille OSC.
A 5-3 win for Canada in Monday’s game against Finland has pushed it through to the championship game, where it will face the USA.
The U.S. clinched its spot in the final with a 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday. That game in Montreal started off tense as the fans booed the US National Anthem. Then there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game.
They have a history
Recently US President Donald Trump suggested that Canada might be a good candidate for becoming the 51st state. That suggestion was not taken well by Canadians and so there has been an added incentive to the usual chippy rivalry.
Canada and the USA will meet to decide the champion of a best-on-best men’s international tournament for the first time in 15 years (last: 2010 Winter Olympic Games). Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off final will mark the fifth time the two countries will clash in a championship/gold medal game at an NHL International Tournament or Olympics (CAN: 3-1). In their last head-to-head meeting in best-on-best hockey at the 2010 Olympics, USA defeated Canada in the preliminary round before Canada earned the victory in the gold medal game – Canada will look to continue that trend on Thursday.
The championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off is set for Thursday (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS), longtime rivals Canada and the USA will write the next chapter in their lengthy on-ice history.
After netting the overtime winner Saturday against Sweden, Mikael Granlund scored twice to pull Finland within a goal late in the third period on Monday, marking the fifth time a player from Finland has recorded a multi-goal game at an NHL International Tournament. He joined Esa Tikkanen (1991 Canada Cup vs. USA), Janne Ojanen (1991 Canada Cup vs. Canada), Juhani Tamminen (1976 Canada Cup vs. Sweden) and Lasse Oksanen (1976 Canada Cup vs. Sweden).
Chris Kreider of Boxford, Mass., playing in his home state, scored 35 seconds into his first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the fastest goal of the tournament and eighth time a player has scored in the first 35 seconds of a game at an NHL International Tournament.
USA forward J.T. Miller had a 98.51 mph slap shot at 12:11 of the third period (via NHL EDGE), which displaced Sweden’s Victor Hedman (97.60 mph vs. Canada) for the hardest shot of the 4 Nations Face-Off so far.
Werenski will become the fifth player with at least five assists in a single NHL International Tournament while playing four games or fewer (the max GP for any player at 4 Nations Face-Off). The others (all in 4 GP): forwards Peter Forsberg of Sweden (7 at 1996 WCH), Gilbert Perreault of Canada (6 at 1981 CC), DanielAlfredsson of Sweden (6 at 2004 WCH), as well as defenseman Calle Johansson of Sweden (6 at 1996 WCH).
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge naturally takes issue with Juan Soto’s conclusion that the New York Mets have a better chance to win World Series titles than the Yankees.
Soto left the Yankees as a free agent in December for a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets, turning down the Yankees’ $760 million, 16-year offer.
“That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him,” Judge, the Yankees captain, said Monday after his team’s first full-squad workout this year. “He’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in the town. We’re going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years.”
Judge hit third last year behind Soto and called him “one of a kind” and “a special player.” Because Soto changed his phone number, Judge wasn’t able to contact Soto until after the decision.
“I wasn’t too surprised by it. I think that’s where he wanted to be. I think that’s where is best for him and his family,” Judge said. “He got a pretty nice deal over there. I mean, you can’t say no to that. But I’m happy for you.”
Judge, who turns 33 on April 26, won his second AL MVP award in three years after leading the major leagues last season with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks. He hit .322 as the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
“Getting to the dance and then losing out on it definitely is a lot worse than not even getting in,” Judge said. “So guys are motivated. Guys are ready to go.”
Judge dropped Tommy Edman’s routine fly to center in World Series Game 5 for his first error of the year as the Yankees blew a 5-0 lead and were eliminated with a 7-6 loss. Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly said his team had anticipated Yankees’ defensive mistakes.
“We heard that, but there’s nothing you can do besides you have to beat them,” Judge said. “They won. They can say whatever they want. So if you don’t like it, you got to play better.”
Judge is likely to play primarily in right field following the acquisition of Cody Bellinger in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs. Judge was mostly in center last year.
Oh, baby — Judge has extra motivation
Judge’s wife, Samantha Bracksieck, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Nora Rose Judge, on Jan. 27.
“Having the chance to have her grow up and watch me do what I love, if there’s any way I can inspire her through playing this game to do something special, that’s that’s going to be pretty cool,” Judge said.
“I’m getting older,” he added. “I don’t want to be the old man here in a couple of years, so I got to stay on top of my game. So she’s definitely going to motivate me, definitely keep me on my toes. and it’s going to be a fun couple of years, that’s for sure.”
Jasson Domínguez finds himself between Judge and Bellinger
Jasson Domínguez arrived to find his locker between Judge’s and Bellinger’s.
“I was kind of surprised,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “But I think it’s a good thing to be in that group and be able to learn from them.”
Domínguez struggled during 13 left field appearances with the Yankees when he returned late last season from Tommy John surgery. Before reporting to major league camp, he had been working on left field defensive routes at the minor league complex.
“The pressure is there, but I feel like it’s a good thing to have,” Domínguez said. “It’s motivation to get better, to be the player that everyone expects me to be.”
A switch-hitter, Domínguez batted .109 right-handed (2 for 19) and .216 left-handed (8 for 37) with the Yankees last season. He homered against left-hander Carlos Rodón in batting practice on Monday.
“He’s really young and he’s not real experienced,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Over time I think he’s going to be a real factor from both sides of the plate.”
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