NAMES AND NUMBERS

* SOME GOODBY: Nolan Ryan insists that there will not be a premature end to his farewell tour, that he will continue to prepare for his return to the Texas Rangers’ rotation “even if its only for three starts in September.”

Ryan, 46, has been on the disabled list four times in the last two years and has started only three games this season. His recovery from a strained hip has been delayed two weeks by a seven-stitch cut on his left foot, suffered on a Memorial Day water-ski outing with his family.

“This has been a little less than sensational,” Ryan said of his final season. “It’s as if there’s a black cloud following me around.”

* ADD RANGERS: A 2-7 trip that ended Thursday, the Rangers’ worst since 1983, included two clubhouse blowups by Manager Kevin Kennedy. He turned over the postgame buffet in Boston and broke a clubhouse mirror by throwing a baked potato. Kennedy said his players have been schooled enough and there will be changes unless they show initiative in the areas of execution and leadership.

“If not, we’ll send them back to the instructional league and get some players who can,” said Kennedy, who was without Juan Gonzalez and Julio Franco for much of the trip because of leg injuries.

* DRAFT DATE: General Manager Larry Himes of the Chicago Cubs, and his scouting director, Al Goldis, turned out a succession of successful No. 1 picks while with the White Sox--Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas and Alex Fernandez. Now they think they have produced another in the Cubs’ No. 1 of this week: Brooks Kieschnick, the University of Texas pitcher-outfielder who was selected college player of the year by Baseball America.

Kieschnick is expected to be a position player with the Cubs.

“He’s the best hitter in the country,” Goldis said. “I’d put him between Ventura and Thomas because he has power like Thomas, but can go to all fields like Ventura. He’s also the toughest kid mentally I’ve ever drafted. He just refuses to lose.”

* FAIL HOSE: McDowell, Fernandez and Wilson Alvarez are a combined 18-7 with the White Sox, but a breakdown in the Nos. 4 and 5 starting spots have prevented Chicago from sustaining the May drive that produced a division lead. Kirk McCaskill, the No. 4 starter, is 2-6 with a 5.68 earned-run average. Rod Bolton, now in the minors, Dave Stieb, recently released, and Jason Bere are a combined 2-7 with a 6.12 ERA as the No. 5 starters.

* FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Knee surgery is expected to keep New York Met left-hander Sid Fernandez sidelined until after the All-Star break. “It’s the same old story,” Manager Dallas Green said. “He’s got to push himself away from the table and help his knee out.”

* REPEAT VISIT: Cleveland Indian slugger Albert Belle, suspended in each of the last three seasons by the American League, found one redeeming factor when his appeal of a three-day suspension for charging pitcher Hipolito Pichardo of the Kansas City Royals was rejected by league President Bobby Brown the other day.

“Everybody in the (league) office remembered me,” Belle said. “The receptionist said, ‘Albert, it’s nice to see you again.”’