Kinsler says comments on Rangers taken ‘out of context’
By Matt Fisher
Many fans of the Tigers and the Rangers woke up to a published article featuring second baseman Ian Kinsler calling his old general manager Jon Daniels a ‘sleazeball’ and hoping his former team goes ‘0-162.’
It would be no surprise, then, that when he got to camp today, Kinsler would be bombarded by media members asking him questions about the article, which was in ESPN The Magazine. The 31-year old was quick to defend and dismiss both his comments and the article.
Ian Kinsler said he has no plans to reach out to Rangers GM Jon Daniels about "sleazeball" comment, but said it was taken out of context.
— James Schmehl (@jamesschmehl) March 4, 2014
Ian Kinsler said intent of ESPN story was stir up drama. Repeated that his comments were taken out of context.
— James Schmehl (@jamesschmehl) March 4, 2014
Kinsler also went on to say that his wishes that the Rangers would go ‘0-162’ were just a matter of telling a joke.
Author’s Note: I think it’s easy to buy that the ‘0-162’ comment was just a joke at best and a matter of competitive nature at worst. I find it far more unlikely that Kinsler calling Jon Daniels a ‘sleazeball’ is something that can be taken out of context. As noted on MLB Network Radio, this interview happened a week before position players reported to Spring Training, a full three months after the trade occurred. This was also a planned, featured interview, in which the two parties agreed to sit down and have questions answered. ‘Sleazeball’ sounds like a comment that Kinsler wanted to get off of his chest.