ARLINGTON, Texas -- The dissatisfaction Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels feels about the team missing the playoffs is no reflection of how he regards manager Ron Washington. Custom Sharks Jersey . While the Rangers arent in the playoffs for the first time in four years, Daniels said Thursday that he feels "as strong about" Washington as he ever has. Washington has only next season remaining on his contract, but Daniels plans to sit down with him to discuss that situation. Texas has averaged more than 91 wins a year the past five seasons and made its only two World Series appearances in that span. Asked if it was a fair assumption Washington would get a contract extension, Daniels replied, "That would be my preference." The GM said he hadnt yet had an opportunity to speak with ownership about that. During more than 45 minutes discussing the season, Daniels also acknowledged that major league strikeout leader Yu Darvish (13-9, 277 strikeouts) dealt with a nerve issue in his lower back for than a month at the end of the season. The pitcher had an injection Wednesday and was flying home to Japan for about a month. The Rangers expect him to be fully healthy by next spring. For the second year in a row since their AL championship seasons in 2010 and 2011, the Rangers were done after losing a must-win game in their 163rd game. They lost in the first AL wild-card game at home last year and this week missed the playoffs with 91 wins after losing at home to Tampa Bay in the majors first wild-card tiebreaker game since 2007. "On one hand, weve averaged over 90 wins the last five years, weve had a lot of success organizationally, a lot of individuals having a lot of success. ... Were in the middle of what we feel is a tremendous run," Daniels said. "At the same time, one-and-done is not good enough. Its two years in a row weve been in this spot, and it hurts. I can tell you we want more." Daniels had just completed his first year as GM when he fired Buck Showalter after the 2006 season and replaced him with the longtime Oakland third-base coach who then had no major league managerial experience. Washington now is the teams winningest manager (611-522) after seven seasons. "To the degree that that was any speculation (about his job) late in the year ... that was always rumour mill-driven," Daniels said. "I feel the same way, just as strong about Wash as I ever have." After an AL-best record of 20-7 in August and with a two-game lead in the AL West, the Rangers started September with a 5-15 slide. That included being swept in a six-game homestand by Pittsburgh and Oakland, though they won all seven games on their last homestand to force the tiebreaker. It was the second year in a row a September slump cost the Rangers the AL West title. There was a 4-9 finish to the 2012 regular season. The Rangers staff ERA of 3.62 was their best since 1983. But after losing sluggers Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli in free agency last winter, their 730 runs were the fewest in a full season since 1992. " Who would have thought five, six years ago wed be talking about the pitching being the strength of the club," Daniels said. And the core of the starting rotation is still signed for multiple years, including Darvish and left-handers Derek Holland (10-9) and Matt Harrison, the years opening day starter who pitched only twice before two operations on a herniated disk in his lower back. Darvish didnt pitch past the sixth inning in any of his last three starts, though the Rangers won each of those games. Texas was 0-6 his six previous starts, five of them one-run games (including consecutive 1-0 losses). Daniels said the nerve started bothering Darvish in August, and that the team agreed with the pitchers decision not to have the injection during the season. "Effectively he had a nerve issue in his lower back that caused him to use strength after a period of time in his right leg," Daniels said. "He wasnt as powerful as he wanted to be after being out there for an extended period. ... He chose not to have injection because it would have required him to miss a start. He did not want to do that, he wanted to take the ball every five days. I commend him for that." Dan Boyle Sharks Jersey . Sabathia did not get a decision on Monday against Tampa Bay, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Hes 13-4 on the year to go along with a 3.42 ERA. Since winning six decisions over a nine-start stretch, Sabathia is 0-1 over his last two outings, but still has only allowed more than three runs once in his previous 10 trips to the hill. Tommy Wingels .Its important to drink liquids during a marathon to maintain hydration. REGINA -- If Kerry Josephs playing career is in fact over, hell have many highlights to look back on -- the end of a 4-14 season among them. Joseph, in his 11th year as a CFL quarterback, played the final 10 minutes Saturday as the Edmonton Eskimos ended their season with a 30-26 win over Josephs former team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. "I can say if I dont ever put the uniform on again or lace another cleat up I won my last game," he said, his voice cracking and eyes moist. "Not everybody can say that. It wasnt a championship game but I can say I won my last one. And its a lot of emotion." Joseph finished two-for-three passing for 29 yards. He acknowledged that his time in Edmonton as a player is "probably" over, and it had been widely speculated in the lead-up to the game that it would be his last in the CFL. Joseph added that he will continue looking for opportunities to play over the next month but that he feels he has a lot to offer as a coach too if he decides to retire. The last time Joseph wore a Roughriders uniform he was celebrating a win in the 2007 Grey Cup. In the aftermath of Saturdays game, he was pondering the possibility of history repeating itself. "This fanbase has been another home to me," said Joseph, who played two seasons for the Riders before unexpectedly being traded to Toronto before the 2008 season and eventually moving on to Edmonton. "Theyve been great to me all the way back to 2006 and from the time I first walked on the field here. "This could be fitting to come back here." The turning point for the Eskimos came when Jamal Miles returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown with barely a minute to play. Saskatchewan punter Ricky Schmitts kick drove Edmonton back to its own 31-yard line but Miles found a seam and sprinted down the sideline for the winning score. On the Roughriders previous drive, they were stuffed four times on first-and-goal and opted to settle for a field goal instead of trying once more for the end zone. Edmonton (4-14) ended a difficult regular season by sending the Roughriders (11-7) into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak with the win. The defeat also cost Saskatchewan its first 12-win season since 2008 as the Riders prepare to host the B.C. Lions in the CFLs West Division semifinal. For Edmonton the win meant little more than avoiding a new benchmark for the second-worst season in franchise history. "Its real hard to keep the guys hungry when you know what you already have next week," said Riders head coach Corey Chamblin. "I hate to use the word meaningless because its not ... but in total it was pretty hard to get the guys in the mindset of Hey, lets go do all-out." With both teams resting a number of starters, the game featured another characteristically slow start from the Roughriders, who trailed 10-0 before Chris Milo kicked a 23-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter. Edmonton raced out to thee early lead on a 25-yard field goal from Grant Shaw and a 56-yard interception return from middle linebacker Rennie Curran. Dan Boyle Authentic Jersey. Currans pick was the first of the year thrown by Saskatchewan quarterback Drew Willy, who started his second game of 2013 in place of starter Darian Durant. Willy was looking for Weston Dressler on a crossing route over the middle and threw the ball straight into the hands of Curran, who was cutting the other way. Saskatchewan tied the game at 10 late in the second quarter on a six-yard TD pass from Willy to Eron Riley, who started the game in place of injured slotback Chris Getzlaf. A 40-yard field goal from Shaw made it 13-10 Edmonton at the half. Willy left the game at halftime 15-of-22 passing for 157 yards, giving way to third-stringer Tino Sunseri for the second half. Sunseri finished the game 14 of 18 for 167 yards. Milo made it 13-13 on an 11-yard field goal in the third quarter and Shaw replied with a 25-yarder of his own to restore Edmontons three-point lead. The Roughriders took their first lead of the game after Craig Butler picked Edmonton backup QB Jonathan Crompton and returned the ball to the Eskimos 28-yard line. Sunseri threw a 20-yard pass to Rob Bagg and Chris Garrett, who started at tailback in place of Kory Sheets, ran eight yards on the next play for the score. Crompton returned fire on the next drive, culminating in a 12-yard TD throw to John White and a 23-20 lead. Milo maintained his perfect performance with field goals of 22 and eight yards in the final quarter but it wasnt enough. The Eskimos started the game with Mike Reilly at quarterback. He was replaced early in the third quarter by Crompton, who then gave way to Joseph for the home stretch. "Just his leadership and his faith has been huge for me to look up to," Eskimos receiver Nate Coehoorn said of Joseph. "Just the way he handles himself as a pro, hes just a rock. Hes just that guy in meetings you can always ask a question. Hes almost like a player-coach ... he knows everything." Reilly finished the game 5 of 12 for 50 yards. Crompton was two of four for 33 yards. A small consolation to the Riders came with 13 seconds to go when Taj Smith caught a nine-yard pass from Sunseri, putting him over 1,000 yards receiving for the season and making 2013 the first year since 1993 that Saskatchewan has had three 1,000 yard receivers in a season. Dressler and Getzlaf had reached that milestone earlier this year. Saskatchewan meets B.C. Sunday with the winner advancing to face Calgary in the West Division final. "Its a brand new season," said Chamblin. "The only thing that matters to me is every game I expect that were going to be able to win, regardless of whos healthy. "Like I told the guys there are some good things that we did this season. This team is greatly improved from last year in a number of areas and things that weve done. I think thats what we have to look at." cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
