Arlington, Texas ? Ron Washington always has been a popular coach with players, stressing communication and letting them be themselves.

Now he will get his chance as a manager with the Texas Rangers, who wanted and needed somebody with those characteristics.

“I am very thrilled. I don’t think I can find words to express it right now,” Washington said. “Maybe one day I will find the words.”

Washington, a coach for the Oakland Athletics the past 11 seasons, was chosen over four other candidates to replace Buck Showalter and inherit a team that has had only one winning season since last making the playoffs in 1999.

“Ron is a teacher and winner who brings a great deal of integrity to our organization,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “He is a straightforward, energetic baseball man who we’re excited to have lead the Rangers.”

Baseball

Teahen K.C.’s player of year

Kansas City, Mo. – Third baseman Mark Teahen, who hit .290 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs, has been chosen the Kansas City Royals’ player of the year, the team announced Monday.

Teahen, 25, was hitting just .195 when he was demoted to Triple-A Omaha on May 5. But he returned June 3 and played like one of the best third basemen in the major leagues, hitting .313 with 19 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs the rest of the way.

Liriano surgery successful

Minneapolis – Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano, his brilliant rookie season cut short because of arm soreness, had surgery on his left elbow Monday.

Liriano, who went 12-3 with a 2.16 earned-run average last season before elbow pain knocked him out of the lineup, will miss the entire 2007 season as he rehabilitates.

Iwamura put up for bid

New York – Third baseman Akinori Iwamura was put up for bid Monday by the Yakult Swallow of Japan’s Central League.

Major-league teams have until Friday to submit bids for the 27-year-old Iwamura, a five-time Gold Glove winner in Japan who played for his nation’s team at the World Baseball Classic in March.

Delgado happy with Mets

New York – Carlos Delgado is so happy with the Mets that he doesn’t want to leave New York.

Delgado decided against filing a trade demand, the Mets said Monday, preferring to stick with the team that took him to the playoffs for the first time in his big-league career.

Nationals get pitching

Washington – Right-handers Tim Redding and Joel Hanrahan agreed Monday to one-year contracts with the Washington Nationals along with infielder Josh Wilson and outfielder Michael Restovich.

Baseball, union settle claim

New York – Baseball players and owners settled potential claims that management may have conspired against free agents following the 2002 and 2003 seasons as part of an agreement that also dealt with about 40 grievances.

The settlement, made with no admissions of guilt, was agreed to last month at the same time the sides signed off on a five-year labor contract through the 2011 season.

Golf

Azinger changes criteria

Paul Azinger took over the U.S. Ryder Cup team in more ways than one, persuading the PGA of America to give him four captain’s picks and revamping the criteria so that money and majors determine who makes the team.

“I’m going to get the blame if it doesn’t work,” Azinger said Monday. “I would like some of the credit if it does.”

Horse Racing

Barbaro’s cast removed

Kennett Square, Pa. – The cast on Barbaro’s leg was removed Monday, another step in the recovery process for the Kentucky Derby winner.

Barbaro’s lower right-hind leg had been in a cast since surgery following an accident at the Preakness on May 20.

Barbaro’s left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn’t shown signs of new problems.

Top horse Bernardini retired

Lexington, Ky. – Bernardini has run his last race.

Two days after finishing second in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the 3-year-old colt was retired Monday and will stand at stud at Sheik Mohammed’s Darley farm.

College football

Stabbing suspect in court

Greeley, Colo. – Northern Colorado punter Rafael Mendoza left a courtroom visibly shaken Monday after his former backup appeared before a judge on charges of trying to kill Mendoza by stabbing him in his kicking leg. Mendoza declined comment as he walked to his truck with his fiance minutes after Mitch Cozad made his first court appearance.

Cozad is charged with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the Sept. 11 attack on Mendoza. Police say they believe Cozad attacked Mendoza to capture his starting job.

The judge on Monday scheduled two more hearings, but declined to rule on motions by Cozad’s attorney to close a Jan. 19 preliminary hearing, limit pretrial publicity and keep the arrest warrant affidavit sealed.

Paterno plans to coach

State College, Pa. – Joe Paterno wants to coach this weekend, but don’t look for him to pace the sidelines in his blue Penn State jacket and rolled-up khakis.

The feisty 79-year-old coach was listed in good condition Monday at Mount Nittany Medical Center following an 80-minute operation a day earlier on his fractured shin bone and two torn knee ligaments. The injuries stemmed from a sideline collision during last week’s loss to Wisconsin.

Paterno plans to coach Saturday against Temple, though it’s unclear if that means from the Beaver Stadium sidelines or a coach’s box.

Three Vols suspended

Knoxville, Tenn. – Three Tennessee players were suspended Monday following their arrests for disorderly conduct and underage drinking at a nightclub after the Vols’ loss to LSU.

Starting tailback Arian Foster, safety Antonio Wardlow and fullback David Holbert, all 20 years old, were charged with disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol. Wardlow also was charged with public intoxication.

College Basketball

Texas Tech’s Jackson back

Lubbock, Texas – Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech’s leading scorer, has returned to practice after being dismissed from the team last week.

Jackson worked with the team Sunday, Tech spokesman Chris Cook said.

His status for the season opener Saturday night against Sam Houston State remained unclear.

Tech coach Bob Knight said last week that Jackson, who led the Big 12 Conference in scoring last season with 20.5 points per game, had been dismissed for academic reasons.

Pro Football

Strahan out 2-4 weeks

East Rutherford, N.J. – A sprained ligament in his right foot will keep Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan off his feet for at least a week and out of the lineup for two weeks to a month – and possibly longer.

Tests on Strahan’s foot Monday revealed a sprain to the Lis Franc ligament, one of the main stabilizers in the middle of the foot.

Urlacher will be OK

Lake Forest, Ill. – An MRI exam showed that Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has a sprained big toe on his left foot and not the major injury the team had feared.

Rams’ returner likely out

St. Louis – St. Louis Rams kickoff returner Tony Fisher is likely out for the rest of the season due to a right knee injury, also leaving the team short at running back.

Results of an MRI exam were not in, but coach Scott Linehan said Monday it was “probable” that Fisher tore a ligament in his ACL.

Mathis out with injury

Flowery Branch, Ga. – Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kevin Mathis suffered a season-ending neck injury Sunday that is not expected to require surgery.

The team did not release any details on the neck injury.

Flexible schedule kicks in

New York – The NFL has moved the San Diego Chargers’ game at Denver from Sunday afternoon to 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 19.

The game will be broadcast nationally by NBC as part of the flexible schedule negotiated into the current television contract.