Our MLB editor files dispatches from this year's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in Notes From Sin City.We heard from Greg Maddux Monday in Las Vegas, so why not another living pitching legend Tuesday? Nolan Ryan, now the president of the Texas Rangers, just spoke here at the Bellagio about a variety of things, first and foremost the new conditioning program Rangers pitchers are being put through this winter.
Ryan is stressing accountability with his pitchers and it's easy to understand why -- the Rangers have ranked 14th, 11th, eighth and 12th in the American League in ERA over the past four seasons. Ryan is new to his role with Texas, but it's clear from here on out that he won't accept any excuses for poor performance, including the bandbox the Rangers play their home games in and the oppressive heat of the Texas summer.
Ryan cited the advice he received from knuckleballer Charlie Hough when he first signed with the Rangers, saying a pitcher's mission in Texas is simply to pitch longer than the visiting starter.
Ryan also talked about the slow free-agent market in Vegas, pinning much of the cautiousness on the poor economy. "It's going to be a tough market for a certain type of free agent," he said, adding that teams might be looking more to the trade market to fill their needs rather than making a big splash on the open market.
