Washington explains pep talk to pitchers

ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington is known for his occasional and rather unusual practice of hurrying out to the mound and briefly speaking to his pitcher. Typically that's the pitching coach's forte and the overwhelming percent of the time, it's Mike Maddux who gives the pep talks.

But Washington made one of his trips to the mound Saturday night in the eighth inning, when Alexi Ogando got in trouble against the White Sox. Ogando walked the first batter he faced and allowed a single up the middle to the next batter.

That brought up Adam Dunn, a slugging lefty in the midst of a hot start this season, and that brought Washington to the mound for some advice.

"Throw it in the strike zone, we've got a four-run lead," Washington said he told Ogando. "Make them swing the bat. You're not going to give up four runs before you get us off the field, and he didn't."

Washington said his demeanor with Ogando and other pitchers differs from Derek Holland, who has received his share of somewhat animated visits from the manager.

"Derek, I can go out there like I talk to an umpire," Washington said.