GaryMrMets
05-27-2004, 02:00 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8768777.htm
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
Phillies Notes | Wagner, trainer at odds on rehab
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK - Billy Wagner tried Jeff Cooper's plan and it didn't work.
So Wagner went on his own.
The Phillies closer has been at odds recently with Cooper, who has been a Phillies trainer since 1976. Wagner, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, ditched Cooper's rehab program and returned to the one he used with the Houston Astros.
"It's probably because I'm so competitive and he's so laid back," Wagner said of his differences with Cooper. "I believe in going in and working and getting it done and getting on the field. In the past, it's taken me 15 days with a groin or a pull or anything. I did what they said in seven or eight days and there was no [improvement] when I threw."
Wagner hasn't pitched since May 7. He missed a few games because of back spasms in Arizona before he strained his groin May 13 in San Francisco. He suffered a setback Saturday at Citizens Bank Park when he tried to throw a simulated game as directed - despite his reservations about throwing off the mound - and aggravated the injury.
"It's not about doing it my way," Wagner said. "I've listened to him. I've done what he said to do, and it doesn't work. It's about doing what's going to get me on the field. So, I'm doing what I believe will get me out on the field... .
"I'm not doubting his ability. What I'm saying is what I know will get me out on the field. It's not to say he doesn't know what he's talking about... . I know me, and he doesn't. And we have to communicate and if he doesn't want to communicate or it's not going to go like that, then that's when you have your problems."
Is Cooper upset with Wagner?
"That's not my problem," Wagner said.
But Wagner is now working with assistant trainer Mark Andersen on his new program.
Wagner couldn't pitch May 8 because of muscle spasms. He said he had the spasms before in Houston, and said the Astros gave him muscle relaxers for it. He wondered why the Phillies only offered pain medication.
Wagner said yesterday that he finally got the relaxers on his own and the problem went away.
Cooper doesn't speak to reporters and declined to comment.
Phillies manager Larry Bowa said, "I'm sure when a guy pitches as long as he's pitched, he knows his body better than doctors, trainers, anybody.
"He just has to listen to his body. If he has in his mind that he can't do anything, then he can't do it. No one is here to say, 'Go out and do this.' "
So was Wagner brought back too early?
"You don't know," said Wagner, who thinks the best-case scenario is that he throws off the mound Tuesday. "If I would have sat, I might have been ready. But the fact is I didn't and now it's going to take a little while... . Looking back at that, I needed the full 15 days to relax and do what I needed to do. We tried to rush it."
It's killing Wagner to sit.
"I'm a bad DL guy," he said. "I'm going to cheer my teammates on, come up and pat 'em on the butt and tell them good job. But don't ask me to be overjoyed about watching people do my job."
As a veteran in the middle of a multiyear contract, Wagner can demand a trade if the Phillies pick up his $9 million option for 2005. If the Phillies can't find a suitable trade by March 15, Wagner can become a free agent. But typically a player will rescind his demand at that time because there is too much risk of not finding a suitable contract.
"I'll answer that question after we win the World Series," he said about his future. "That's way too early. I don't even want to entertain that question because, you know what? We've got something to work for. I haven't thought about it. What I've thought about is getting healthy and getting back on the field. This is a great team, and I want to be a part of it. Worrying about next year is the furthest thing from my mind."
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
Phillies Notes | Wagner, trainer at odds on rehab
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK - Billy Wagner tried Jeff Cooper's plan and it didn't work.
So Wagner went on his own.
The Phillies closer has been at odds recently with Cooper, who has been a Phillies trainer since 1976. Wagner, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, ditched Cooper's rehab program and returned to the one he used with the Houston Astros.
"It's probably because I'm so competitive and he's so laid back," Wagner said of his differences with Cooper. "I believe in going in and working and getting it done and getting on the field. In the past, it's taken me 15 days with a groin or a pull or anything. I did what they said in seven or eight days and there was no [improvement] when I threw."
Wagner hasn't pitched since May 7. He missed a few games because of back spasms in Arizona before he strained his groin May 13 in San Francisco. He suffered a setback Saturday at Citizens Bank Park when he tried to throw a simulated game as directed - despite his reservations about throwing off the mound - and aggravated the injury.
"It's not about doing it my way," Wagner said. "I've listened to him. I've done what he said to do, and it doesn't work. It's about doing what's going to get me on the field. So, I'm doing what I believe will get me out on the field... .
"I'm not doubting his ability. What I'm saying is what I know will get me out on the field. It's not to say he doesn't know what he's talking about... . I know me, and he doesn't. And we have to communicate and if he doesn't want to communicate or it's not going to go like that, then that's when you have your problems."
Is Cooper upset with Wagner?
"That's not my problem," Wagner said.
But Wagner is now working with assistant trainer Mark Andersen on his new program.
Wagner couldn't pitch May 8 because of muscle spasms. He said he had the spasms before in Houston, and said the Astros gave him muscle relaxers for it. He wondered why the Phillies only offered pain medication.
Wagner said yesterday that he finally got the relaxers on his own and the problem went away.
Cooper doesn't speak to reporters and declined to comment.
Phillies manager Larry Bowa said, "I'm sure when a guy pitches as long as he's pitched, he knows his body better than doctors, trainers, anybody.
"He just has to listen to his body. If he has in his mind that he can't do anything, then he can't do it. No one is here to say, 'Go out and do this.' "
So was Wagner brought back too early?
"You don't know," said Wagner, who thinks the best-case scenario is that he throws off the mound Tuesday. "If I would have sat, I might have been ready. But the fact is I didn't and now it's going to take a little while... . Looking back at that, I needed the full 15 days to relax and do what I needed to do. We tried to rush it."
It's killing Wagner to sit.
"I'm a bad DL guy," he said. "I'm going to cheer my teammates on, come up and pat 'em on the butt and tell them good job. But don't ask me to be overjoyed about watching people do my job."
As a veteran in the middle of a multiyear contract, Wagner can demand a trade if the Phillies pick up his $9 million option for 2005. If the Phillies can't find a suitable trade by March 15, Wagner can become a free agent. But typically a player will rescind his demand at that time because there is too much risk of not finding a suitable contract.
"I'll answer that question after we win the World Series," he said about his future. "That's way too early. I don't even want to entertain that question because, you know what? We've got something to work for. I haven't thought about it. What I've thought about is getting healthy and getting back on the field. This is a great team, and I want to be a part of it. Worrying about next year is the furthest thing from my mind."