Kinsler Says Comments Were Taken Out Of Context

NOAH TRISTER, AP Baseball Writer

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler says an ESPN The Magazine story about him was "written for drama" — and he says some critical comments attributed to him about the Texas Rangers were taken out of context.

Kinsler was traded from Texas to Detroit for first baseman Prince Fielder in the offseason. In the ESPN story, Kinsler was quoted as saying he hopes the Rangers go 0-162 this year. He also was quoted as calling Rangers general manager Jon Daniels a "sleazeball."

Kinsler said Tuesday the "0-162" comment was just a joke.

At their spring camp in Surprise, Ariz., the Rangers seemed to take Kinsler's comments in stride. Texas manager Ron Washington guaranteed the Rangers will not go 0-162.

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