Nolan Ryan wants to convince pitchers they can sizzle in Texas heat: ALCS Insider

Rangers President Nolan Ryan is spreading the word that pitchers not only can survive the heat, but win ballgames while pitching in it in Texas.

ARLINGTON Texas — When Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan came to the Texas Rangers to pitch in 1989, the first thing he did was call an old friend — knuckleballer Charlie Hough, who spent 11 years with the Rangers.

Ryan, who threw seven no-hitters in his career, didn't want to know the secrets of the knuckler. He wanted to know how to handle the heat in Arlington during the regular season.

"Charlie told me, 'Nolan, what you have to do is you have to last longer than the opposing pitcher,' " said Ryan.

Ryan became president of the Texas Rangers in 2008. He has been trying to change the image of the Rangers from a team that tried to win every game, 12-10, to one that can not only pitch, but pitch effectively in the Texas heat.

The message Hough gave Ryan is the one he has passed to his team's pitchers.

"If you can do that, you can win a lot of ballgames," said Ryan, MLB's all-time leader in strikeouts.

The Rangers, who won the AL West with a 90-72 regular season, had the third-best ERA in the American League at 3.93. Starters C.J. Wilson went 15-8 and Tommy Hunter 13-4. Rookie closer Neftali Felix went 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA and 40 saves.

In 10 games this postseason, not including Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Friday, Rangers pitchers were 6-4 with a 2.93 ERA.

"We had to get our pitchers to realize that you could pitch in Arlington Stadium and you could be successful," said Ryan. "We've proven that.

"Our guys are very much at home pitching in the heat. . . . The word was that the ball carries well here, but this park plays pretty true. But you have to keep the ball down and you have to pitch. You just can't throw."

The Rangers have had a tough time persuading free-agent pitchers to come to Arlington. Ryan feels they're changing that reputation.

"With the success of our organization, I think people will view us differently than they have in the past," said Ryan. "I think pitchers felt, like they did with the Rockies, that if you go there you can figure on tacking another run or run and a half on your ERA. That's not the case with us.

"We didn't have to do anything to make it more friendly for pitchers. What we had to do was have pitchers who pitched better."

The Rockies, to combat the high altitude in Denver, were given permission by MLB to keep the balls used in games in a humidor so they wouldn't lose their moisture and thus travel farther.

Bring on Lee: After Thursday's workout at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher heard reporters asking some of his teammates about Cliff Lee, who will start Game 7, if necessary, for Texas today.

"You guys are talking about Cliff Lee?" said Swisher to reporters. "[Expletive], who cares?"

Swisher added, "I can't wait to hit against his [behind]."

Swisher hasn't hit much of anything in the ALCS. He entered Game 6 on Friday hitting .105 (2-for-19). He went 0-for-3 against Lee in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.

Lee is 3-0 against the Yankees in the postseason since 2009.

Texas manager Ron Washington didn't mind what Swisher said.

"That's Swisher. He's a tough competitor," said Washington. "He's not afraid to say what he feels. If I was sitting in his shoes, I'd probably feel the same way. . . . But you know, the game is not played with words; it's played between the lines. And if he can back it up, I'll pat him on the back."

Remember when: In 1988, Washington spent the season with the Indians. When the Indians decided young Jay Bell wasn't the answer at short, then manager Doc Edwards turned to the 36-year-old Washington.

Washington played every day until the Indians ran him into the ground. The following spring they traded Bell to Pittsburgh for shortstop Felix Fermin. Then they watched Bell turn into an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Pirates.

Finally: Nelson Cruz, who left Game 5 early with a tight left hamstring, was back in the Rangers' lineup Friday. He went on the disabled list three times during the regular season with hamstring problems. . . . The start of Game 6 was delayed by rain for six minutes. . . . B.J. Thomas, who had a hit single called "Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head," sang the national anthem with rain drops actually falling on his head.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158