RANGERS
Washington 'untruthful'
IRVING, Texas -- Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington spoke publicly for the first time Thursday since his abrupt resignation Sept. 5, saying that he had been "untruthful" to his wife of 42 years.
Washington, who did not take questions, said he was at a low point in his life and apologized for breaking the trust of his players, coaches and Major League Baseball. He did not offer any details on the exact nature of how he was untruthful to his wife.
"I was not truthful with my wife after 42 years," Washington said. "I broke that trust. I'm here today to own that. To apologize to her and to those I disappointed, and those who have trusted me and I let them down.
"All I ask is for your forgiveness and that you understand. I also ask that you respect our privacy as we go on with our lives. This matter is certainly personal and we're trying hard to put it behind us."
Washington managed the team for the past eight seasons. He's the club's all-time winningest manager and led the Rangers to their only World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
Washington's resignation caught his team, coaching staff and the Rangers' management off guard. At the time, Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels and co-owners Bob Simpson and Ray Davis, among the few who actually know the background details that led to Washington's resignation, declined to say much. All three said it was a personal matter that was best explained by Washington.
MARLINS
Stanton rejoins team
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton still needs to have five teeth fixed or replaced, along with a procedure to assess how much blood remains in his sinus cavity and will be understandably leery the next time he grabs a bat.
He also knows things could be a whole lot worse.
The Miami slugger spoke out for the first time Thursday night about the injury that ended his season, doing so while still sporting a pair of slightly blackened eyes and with a wound evident over the left side of his mouth. Stanton rejoined his team exactly one week after taking a fastball from Milwaukee's Mike Fiers in the face, speaking in the clubhouse before the Marlins played Washington.
"I feel all right," Stanton said. "Swelling's way down, much better than I envisioned. Just got to get the grill fixed and we'll go from there."
Stanton sounded very much like himself, though he's still a bit uncomfortable about putting the extent of his dental damage on display. The 24-year-old outfielder met with reporters, but no photos or videos were permitted.
Stanton led the National League with 37 home runs and 105 RBI when he got hurt, plus had drawn more intentional walks than any other two NL players combined.
"I was really fortunate," Stanton said. "I could have my mouth wired shut now, I could have a plate in my face, I could have a lot of things. I'll take a few missing teeth over all that. My face didn't do exactly what it was supposed to do by taking that force, but it helped me out."
GIANTS
Bonds' second chance
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds is getting another chance to erase his felony conviction for obstruction of justice.
His lawyer on Thursday urged a special 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction stemming from his 2003 appearance before a grand jury. A jury in 2011 convicted him for giving a rambling answer to a question about whether he received injections from someone other than his doctor.
Bonds' lawyers argue that prosecutors should have asked the question again if they were unsatisfied with the answer.
A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit upheld the conviction, but the court agreed to reconsider the case and have it decided by the 11-judge panel.
Club moves to Sacramento
The San Francisco Giants are moving their Class AAA minor league club to the state capital, entering into a two-year contract with Sacramento.
San Francisco moves from Fresno starting next season, replacing the Athletics in Sacramento after Oakland moved its Class AAA team to Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday. The Giants can get Class AAA players to the Bay Area faster now, being only about 90 minutes away.
CEO Larry Baer said "proximity of the River Cats to San Francisco was critical to the development of our players."
The River Cats were in Sacramento for 15 years with the A's. Sacramento missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time but led the PCL in attendance this year.
Fresno announced Thursday it had reached agreement with the Houston Astros.
BREWERS
Club leaving for Colorado
MILWAUKEE -- Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League will be the new Class AAA home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
General Manager Doug Melvin announced the two-year agreement Thursday.
Milwaukee is moving its top minor-league affiliation from Nashville starting next season. The switch was necessitated after the Nashville Sounds franchise announced a four-year agreement this week to be the top minor league affiliate for the Oakland A's starting next season. The Sounds are moving into a new ballpark in 2015.
The Brewers this week also announced they were extending agreements with Class AA Biloxi and Class A Brevard County. The owner of the Biloxi, Miss., franchise is relocating the team from Huntsville, Ala.
-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Sports on 09/19/2014