be just like indoor rinks, but he knows thats not possibl

MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton still needs to have five teeth fixed or replaced, along with a procedure to assess how much blood remains in his sinus cavity, and he will be understandably leery the next time he grabs a bat. Kyle Hendricks Jersey . He also knows things could be a whole lot worse. The Miami slugger spoke out for the first time Thursday night about the injury that ended his season, doing so while still sporting a pair of slightly blackened eyes and with a wound evident over the left side of his mouth. His return wasnt triumphant; the Marlins were beaten 6-2 by the Washington Nationals. Stanton rejoined the club exactly one week after taking a fastball from Milwaukees Mike Fiers in the face. "Swellings way down, much better than I envisioned," Stanton said. "Just got to get the grill fixed and well go from there." Stanton sounded very much like himself, though he is still a bit uncomfortable about putting the extent of his dental damage on display. The 24-year-old outfielder met with reporters, but no photos or videos were permitted. Jeff Baker drove in one run and scored another for the Marlins (74-78). Miami native Gio Gonzalez (9-10) allowed two runs in seven innings, and Bryce Harper had three hits for the Nationals, who are pushing for home-field advantage in the NL playoffs. Kevin Frandsen and Anthony Rendon each had two hits for Washington (88-64), which took control with a five-run fourth off Miami starter Brad Hand. Hand (3-8) gave up five earned runs and eight hits in five innings. "It was nice to see him and see that hes doing all right," Hand said of Stanton. "But weve still got to come in here and get the job done." Stanton said he remembers Fiers arm action on the pitch, and thinks his eyes found the ball about midway through its journey to the plate. The pitch came in and caught the NL MVP contender in the face, and Stanton said he briefly blacked out. "My ears were ringing," Stanton said. "I couldnt hear nothing, except the ring. I was checking my mouth, just the blood, mouth full and having chunks of teeth floating around." Stanton hoped to play all 162 games this season, and even envisioned a return later this year after the injury. The Marlins ruled him officially out for 2014 earlier this week. When he returns, Stanton said he will wear additional protection on his helmet. He doesnt expect to have any mental blocks about playing again. "I think when we decide the protection, Ill have more reassurance," Stanton said. Stanton led the NL with 37 home runs and 105 RBIs when he got hurt, plus had drawn more intentional walks than any other two NL players combined -- all part of the reason why his teammates have insisted for weeks that he should be the league MVP. "Thats not up to me," Stanton said. "Thats the voters. Theres nothing I can do." Stanton has heard from plenty of people who have endured similar injuries, including Atlantas Jason Heyward. Stantons orbital bone was broken by the pitch from Fiers -- but not shattered, which is a critical distinction. Stanton said his vision is normal and that he anticipates no reason why he wont be able to begin his usual off-season program in December. Still, the force of the hit was massive. Stantons face was struck on the left, but blood was found in the sinuses on the right side of his head -- with an additional CT scan still looming to assess that situation, which is currently preventing him from flying commercially. The Marlins brought him back to Miami on a private jet. Stanton isnt sure how many stitches were needed to close the wounds, either. "I was really fortunate," Stanton said. "I could have my mouth wired shut now, I could have a plate in my face, I could have a lot of things. Ill take a few missing teeth over all that. My face didnt do exactly what it was supposed to do by taking that force, but it helped me out." KS FOR CAPPS Miami reliever Carter Capps recorded four outs, all by strikeout. He is the seventh Marlins pitcher to do that, according to STATS. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: 3B Ryan Zimmerman went 1 for 7 as the DH in a simulated game at the Nationals training facility in Viera, Florida. Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez, out for the season because of elbow reconstruction surgery, might begin a light throwing regimen on Oct. 1. UP NEXT Nationals: RHP Doug Fister (14-6, 2.55) gets the ball Friday night in Miami. Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (9-9, 3.71) starts Friday against Washington. Billy Williams Jersey . A strong fastball. A big, bending curveball that can buckle hitters at the knees. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, Elias put the entire package together against one of the leagues strongest lineups. Billy Williams Cubs Jersey . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Ben-Zobrist-Kids-Jersey/ . There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee.ARLINGTON, Va. - Playing baseball growing up in Wawota, Sask., Brooks Laich and friends would light a wine cork on fire to make eye black and guard against the sun.That might not be a bad idea at the Winter Classic.With plenty of sun in the forecast, Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks players must be prepared for sun glare to cause problems and perhaps even delay the start of Thursdays game at Nationals Park. Laich said players were warned about the possibility of the opening faceoff coming later than 1 p.m. because of the sun, and his teammates understand its a variable theyll have to deal with.Youve got to sort of find a way quickly to adapt, Capitals defenceman Mike Green said. Once youre in the game, everythings instinct and whatnot. Theres definitely adjustments you have to make as players and as a team, but thats the fun of it.According to the National Weather Service, itll be about five degrees when the Capitals and Blackhawks are scheduled to take the ice for the seventh Winter Classic. Theres no rain in the forecast, but with limited cloud cover expected, the sun could be beating down on the ice.Nationals baseball players here grew to call it the Sun Monster, and it could wreak some havoc for hockey as well. Players will get a taste of it during practices in the late morning and early afternoon Wednesday.Theres precedent for delaying outdoor games in recent NHL history. The 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was delayed two hours because of the sun, and a Stadium Series game at Yankee Stadium earlier this year was delayed 98 minutes.I think Id rather deal with sun than rain, Laich said. I think even with sun youre going to have better ice conditions, youre going to have a better product on the ice.Weather changing the start time of a Winter Classic is nothing new to the Capitals. Rain forced the 2011 game in Pittsburgh to be moved to nighttime, and even then it wasnt clear and perfect.We went through weather conditions that werent in favour of a hockey game last time in Pittsburggh, Green said. Kosuke Fukudome Jersey. .The plan is still for this to be an afternoon game, and according to an NHL spokesman a change to the start time wouldnt be contemplated until game day.Either way, players insist theyll be prepared.Well get a chance to wear the eye black which we didnt get to do in Pittsburgh, Capitals winger Eric Fehr said. I think thats kind of cool. Hopefully we get the game going at 1 oclock.On Tuesday, the ice had sun on it until just before 2:30. The height of the stands at Nationals Park actually helps reduce the amount of time the sun is on the playing surface.Eye black is one way for players to adjust. Skaters might also try to take advantage of goaltenders Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford not being able to see the puck as well.Shoot it from everywhere, Laich joked. Red line, shoot it, eh? Skip it along the ice. Try anything.Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said he hadnt considered the potential ramifications of sun glare or wearing eye black.I just dont think about what Im gonna do out there, Ovechkin said. Were gonna skate on the ice and then were gonna go to the locker-room.Sun or no sun, just playing outdoors requires players to change some things up. Green said the ideal playing conditions would be just like indoor rinks, but he knows thats not possible.Capitals coach Barry Trotz said his biggest adjustment might be wearing a hat. While many of the players on the two teams and coach Joel Quenneville have been a part of outdoor NHL hockey, this is Trotzs first chance.Despite being new to this, Trotz understands players will have to adapt on the fly.I think the biggest thing is going be depth perception because youre used to the fans right on top of you, he said. All of a sudden theyre going to be away from you a little bit. Its going to feel different.Note — Capitals defenceman Brooks Orpik is questionable to play after suffering a right knee injury Monday night. Trotz said this being the Winter Classic will not affect how the team handles the injury.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '