Sand Gnats ditch Rangers for Expos

SAVANNAH - The Savannah Sand Gnats announced a two-year deal to be the Montreal Expos&#39; low-level Class A minor league team. <br> <br> The Sand Gnats were affiliated with the Texas Rangers for the last five years. They fielded the two worst teams in franchise history over the last two years, with a combined record of 103-191 (.379). <br> <br> ``When you spend the last two years with a club that appears it doesn&#39;t want to be here, or doesn&#39;t put a lot of emphasis on putting a team in here to win, that kind of wears on you after a while. I think it might have worn on our fans a little bit, too,&#39;&#39; Ken Shepard, the team&#39;s general manager and chief operating officer, said Monday. <br> <br> The Sand Gnats had only one winning season as a Rangers affiliate. <br> <br> The Rangers disliked Savannah&#39;s Grayson Stadium, which was built in 1941 and fails to meet many standards set by Minor League Baseball. <br> <br> ``Our ideal would be to play in a top-level facility throughout the system,&#39;&#39; said Adam Wogan, director of player personnel for the Expos. ``But we&#39;re certainly not going to issue an ultimatum as to whether or not we leave. Right now it&#39;s a two-year agreement, and we&#39;re very interested in trying to cultivate that relationship.&#39;&#39;

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