Ryan Says He Might Quit in Lockout

Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan says he has grown weary of recurring labor battles and may leave baseball if the expected owners’ lockout of players extends deep into the season.

Ryan made the remarks Thursday night at the Rangers’ Mid-Winter Banquet.

“I just hope this doesn’t get into a prolonged situation,” said Ryan, 43, who has endured five labor-related interruptions in his 23-year career. “If that scenario came up and I was staying home watching my kids’ baseball games in May, and then in June we started taking some family vacations that we’ve never done in the summertime, who knows?

“My attitude is I’m kind of tired of (strife). We don’t seem to learn from any of our past experiences,” Ryan said. “I am disappointed baseball hasn’t made any strides in that area. There’s been an opportunity, but we seem to let egos and personalities interfere.”

Ryan’s contract calls for him to be paid $1.4 million this season and he is only 11 victories short of the 300-victory mark, a milestone he hopes to reach this season. He can retire at any time and the Rangers cannot force him to pitch.

A player on the voluntarily retired list forfeits his contract and cannot join another team.

Ryan says he can handle a short lockout. Because of his cattle business on his ranch near Alvin, Ryan never reports to training camp until March 1. Rangers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to begin workouts Feb. 18.

A longer lockout, however, might make Ryan think twice about remaining in baseball.

He said he became depressed during the 51-day strike in 1981 and less committed to training.

“After a while, the intensity level of my workouts waned,” said Ryan, who was 16-10 with a 3.20 ERA and a major league-leading 301 strikeouts last season. “The longer it went, the less dedication I had from the standpoint of trying to be ready. . . . I don’t think when you have an unknown date that you can continue to maintain that level.”

Ryan, who works out about 2 1/2 hours a day in the off-season, says he needs about 24 innings of pitching during spring training to get ready for the regular season.

Ryan generally performs poorly in exhibitions because he uses the innings to smooth mechanics, work on particular pitches and build arm strength. In the last six years, Ryan’s spring-training ERA has been more than 4.80 three times. Without exhibition innings, he would have to use the regular season as a training ground.

“If March 1 comes and passes, I’m going to have to deal with that as far as my program and make adjustments,” said Ryan, whose workouts include 30-minute throwing sessions with veteran utility player Harry Spilman.

“I need to be on a mound and face hitters and extend myself,” he said.