Beating heat constant challenge for 51s

Engaging in any form of physical activity, let alone playing professional baseball, in the extreme summer heat of Las Vegas is typically a miserable experience.

But for the Oklahoma City RedHawks, playing a four-game series against the 51s at Cashman Field this week provided a welcome respite from the heat wave that has swept across Oklahoma and much of the rest of the country.

Temperatures have topped 100 degrees on 44 days this year -- including a high of 110 on Friday -- in Oklahoma City, where it feels hotter than here because of the stifling humidity.

"It's been the hottest summer that I've ever been part of," RedHawks manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "We came out here, and even though it was 103 during batting practice, it was almost like we had a day off. It was kind of a nice relief for us, actually."

Despite the temperature exceeding 110 degrees here only twice this year, Las Vegas remains the hottest city -- along with Tucson, Ariz. -- in the Pacific Coast League.

But several 51s players and coaches agreed the dry, desert heat is much more bearable than the hot and humid weather of the Midwest and Southern states.

"This isn't that bad," Las Vegas pitching coach Tom Signore said. "The hottest place I've ever been is Columbus, Ga., in the South Atlantic League. Holy cow, that was hot. You could see the air. It was 101 and ridiculously humid."

Pitcher Kyle Drabek, a native of Houston, said he's unaffected by the heat here.

"It's not too bad, as hot as it is," he said. "It's kind of nice having fans and misters in the dugout. That helps out a bunch.

"Pitching in Houston, where it's really humid, might be worse just because how much you're going to sweat there. Here you sweat a little bit just because you're pitching, but it doesn't bother me."

Las Vegas catcher Brian Jeroloman, who was raised in Florida, is an exception in that he prefers the humidity.

"With humidity, you can actually feel your body getting tired. Here, you can't feel it, but then you go home and you're like, 'Wow, it felt like I was just baked,' " he said. "Here, it literally feels like I'm getting cooked on the field at times, especially during (afternoon) batting practice."

Jeroloman, who in his full catcher's gear is always the hottest player on the field, said the most miserable game he played in was an NCAA Super Regional showdown in Miami between his Florida Gators and the rival Hurricanes.

The temperature was 105, with 100 percent humidity. A dozen fans were treated for heat exhaustion, and Jeroloman said eight or nine of his teammates became so dehydrated they were administered intravenous fluids after the game.

"I've never been so tired. I drank tubs of water and was still dehydrated after the game," he said. "We were changing shirts every second inning because it was that hot."

Jeroloman, who lost nearly 20 pounds during his first full professional season in the Florida State League, said playing in extreme heat becomes a case of mind over matter.

"It's something your body really can't get used to. It's more so getting your mind to forget about it," he said. "It's part of the game, and you've just got to learn how to power through it."

The 51s, who didn't schedule any home day games in July and August, have altered their preparation to combat the heat, offering optional batting practice while occasionally restricting players to hitting in the indoor batting cage.

"We just try to be smart about it," manager Marty Brown said. "We make sure they get their work in, but we don't leave them on the field."

The team rotates groups of five players from the clubhouse to the field and two at a time to the outdoor batting cage.

"One of the drawbacks of being here is even the cage is outdoors," Brown said. "There's no air (conditioning)."

51s strength coach Rob Helmick said the key to beating the heat is keeping the players hydrated with water, Gatorade and packets of electrolytes. As a result, he said the team has yet to have a heat-related problem in its three years as the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate.

"The guys are on top of their game, which is good," he said. "Hydration, for this heat, helps more than anything."

While not an official member of the team, the hottest person at Cashman Field undoubtedly is the man inside the suit of the team mascot, Cosmo.

"It's 20 to 25 degrees hotter in there than it is outside," said Stephen White, 20, who alternates nights as Cosmo with his brother Dustin, 23. "You sweat like crazy, and it starts to smell, but it's not too bad. I actually enjoy it."

He could be crazy from the heat. Then again, he is an alien.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.