Nelson Cruz stood up in Texas clubhouse and apologized to the Rangers, telling them why he accepted a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball rather than appeal and try to stay on the field now. "Its disappointing, but at the same time, we all love Nelson, and were going to support him through this," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "Hes serving the suspension like he should, and were going to help him go on with this." While teammates wouldnt discuss specifically what Cruz told them, they uniformly expressed support for their top slugger who will miss the rest of the regular season for the playoff-contending Rangers. Cruz was among 13 players disciplined Monday by Major League Baseball for their relationship to Biogenesis of America, a closed anti-aging clinic in Florida accused of distributing banned performing-enhancing drugs. The All-Star right fielder didnt speak publicly, but acknowledged in a statement that he made "an error in judgment" in the wake of a gastrointestinal infection from November 2011 through January 2012. He said the illness wasnt properly diagnosed at first and he lost 40 pounds before getting proper treatment. "Just weeks before I was to report to spring training in 2012, I was unsure whether I would be physically able to play," Cruz said. "Faced with this situation, I made an error in judgment that I deeply regret, and I accept full responsibility for that error. I should have handled the situation differently, and my illness was no excuse." He provided no other specifics, including what he might have taken. That happened around the same time the Rangers were fresh off their second consecutive World Series appearance, and Cruz signed a $16 million, two-year contract to avoid salary arbitration. He was MVP of the 2011 AL championship series. The 50-game suspension corresponds with the last 50 games of the regular season for Texas, which is trying to get into the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. The 33-year-old Cruz, who can be a free agent after this season, would be eligible to play in the post-season if the Rangers make it. The suspension will cost Cruz $2,732,240 in salary for the rest of this season and the possibility of earning another $500,000 in potential performance bonuses based on plate appearances that are no longer attainable. General manager Jon Daniels said the team would be "open-minded" to Cruz returning for the playoffs. "Assuming that theres no other information that were not yet aware of and if his teammates welcome him back, and Nellie handles this well, which I expect he probably will, then were open to it," Daniels said. Manager Ron Washington said Cruz would "unequivocally" be accepted back for the playoffs by his teammates. "Thats the love weve got in that clubhouse," said Washington, who described the day as emotional. "That dont mean that theyve accepted it, but I wouldnt expect anything else." Cruz is batting .269 with a team-high 27 home runs and 76 RBIs in 108 games this season. He homered three times in his last seven games, when the Rangers went 6-1 to cut their deficit behind AL West-leading Oakland from six games to 2 1/2 games. "It goes without saying were not going to replace Nelsons production with any one player, whether thats internally or via a trade," Daniels said on a conference call. "Were going to be creative" Daniels also reiterated a statement issued earlier by the team expressing its disappointment in Cruz for violating MLBs drug policy and its full support of "efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing substances from our game." The non-waiver trade deadline passed last week without the Rangers being able to add a right-handed hitter to potentially help fill his absence. The Rangers recalled outfielder Engel Beltre from Triple-A Round Rock and selected the contract of outfielder Joey Butler from the same team. They also designated infielder Adam Rosales for assignment, three days after adding him on a waiver claim from Oakland. David Murphy took Cruzs regular spot in right field Monday night in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Washington is considering a four-person platoon to fill the outfield -- with Beltre and Murphy in against right-handed pitchers, while Gentry and Butler, who is looking to make his major league debut, would play against lefties. Cruz had never been linked to performance-ending drugs before he was among the players targeted by MLB in a scandal that started last January with a Miami New Times story about Biogenesis. After his name showed up in that report, attorneys for Cruz issued a statement denying the allegations. When Cruz arrived at spring training in February he said it was "shocking" and "depressing" to have his name connected with Biogenesis. In his statement Monday, Cruz expressed thanks "for the unwavering support of my family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Rangers organization, my teammates, and the great Rangers fans, and I am grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the team for the playoffs." Cruz has replaced agents Sam and Seth Levinson with Adam Katz, the representative Daniels said contacted him Sunday night with the players decision to accept the penalty. The Rangers got Cruz in a six-player deal with Carlos Lee from Milwaukee in July 2006. Cruzs first full major league season was 2009, when he was an All-Star and hit a career-high 33 homers. "Its sad. You obviously didnt expect anything like that to happen, but nobody is perfect," said Derek Holland, the teams union rep. "Everybody makes a mistake, and once he gets back, well be waiting for him. Weve just got to take care of what weve got to do now, and thats go get the West." Steven Baker . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Tom Forrest . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/jordan-willis-jersey-for-sale/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Mike Fink .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Antonio Smith . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins starting receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker were both hurt during an injury-filled practice Monday.Stills was injured during a one-on-one drill, fell to the turf and remained down for a couple of minutes while a trainer examined him. He eventually rose and walked to the locker room with assistance.Parker made a long touchdown catch, came up limping and took part in no further drills. He has been nursing a hamstring injury in recent weeks.Top draft pick Laremy Tunsil participated in warmups but then left practice. Coach Adam Gase had no details on the injuries..dddddddddddd.Obviously were going to pull them out as soon as we feel like anything is going on and be precautionary, Gase said.Backup quarterback Matt Moore, who has been sidelined with a concussion, returned to practice but wont play in Miamis final exhibition game Thursday against Tennessee.Starters are expected to see little or no action in that game. The regular-season opener is Sept. 11 at Seattle.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '