GaryMrMets
05-28-2004, 04:14 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/8780966.htm
Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004
Giving peace a chance
Wagner, Cooper trying to resolve medical issues
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
The words stung, as Billy Wagner knew they would. It is a price he deemed worthy of a better relationship with Phillies trainer Jeff Cooper, the man responsible for his well being.
Wagner, acquired as the offseason keystone in a rebuilt bullpen, on Wednesday publicly aired his frustrations with what he called Cooper's lack of communication and his rigidity in treatment courses on Wagner's dissolved back spasms and nagging groin strain.
Yesterday they reconciled.
"Today was a big step," said Wagner, visibly relieved and typically impish. "Me and 'Coop' love each other. We're expecting our first child."
All kidding aside, Wagner and Cooper met for 15 minutes before batting practice yesterday to work out their issues. They are:
Cooper, who does not talk with the media, declined to give Wagner muscle relaxants when Wagner experienced a recurrence of back spasms that struck Wagner on May 8; Wagner got them on his own and, he said, they worked.
Wagner then strained his chronically balky left groin May 13, went on the disabled list, followed Cooper's rehab plan and aggravated the injury Saturday. He then abandoned Cooper's plan, saying it brought him back too quickly and wasn't aggressive enough in working the strained muscle. His relationship with Cooper soured by then, Wagner struck a compromise with assistant trainer Mark Andersen that incorporated rehab techniques he used when the injury flared while he was with Houston.
All of that, said Wagner, he and Cooper discussed. Finally. After a quantified "bleepload" of publications forced it. As in:
"There were a bleepload of reasons why we had that meeting," Wagner said. As for his conflict with Cooper, Wagner was philosophical.
"Any time you come to an organization you're going to bump heads with somebody," said the 32-year-old Wagner, an Astro his whole career before being acquired in an offseason trade.
As for Wagner's return, the closer declined to set a date. He indicated that he could throw off the mound within a week and that a return to the active roster would be within a few days of that. At least, that's what he and his new best friend discussed.
"I thought the forum of communication needed to be opened," Wagner said. "He's not a big talker."
As any counselor will tell you, all it takes is a little talk to patch things up.
Johnny be good
They knew that he would.
The Phillies dealt what they considered a surefire gem when they sent perennial catcher-of-the-future Johnny Estrada to Atlanta in the no-brainer deal on Dec. 20, 2002 that landed them No. 1 starter Kevin Millwood in a cost-cutting measure by the Braves.
Millwood proceeded to pitch a no-hitter last season and anchor a strong staff for the Phillies. After yet another season of waiting in the minors, Estrada is the second-best hitting catcher in the National League, with a .328 average.
"We're not surprised," Phils general manager Ed Wade said. "Given the opportunity, we thought Johnny would be an outstanding everyday catcher on both sides of the plate. We're happy for him."
Said Estrada: "I'm very happy for myself and my family. Especially to start this season well."
It has been a trial of patience for Estrada. He was forced into part-time starting duty in 2001 after just 32 Triple A games when Mike Lieberthal blew out his knee, and found himself a fiery baptism victim in Larry Bowa's first year as manager. A full 2002 in Triple A prepared him, he believed, to start every day in the majors but the Braves had Javy Lopez on the last year of his contract, so Estrada found himself in Richmond.
"I was kind of down in the dumps about it," Estrada said. "But I didn't make the mistake of going down and pouting about it. I had to kick myself in the butt every day."
He's got a kick like a mule. Estrada ranked second in the International League with a .328 average, third with a .393 on-base percentage and struck out only 30 times in 354 at-bats...but Lopez proceeded to have one of the best offensive years in the history of catching. However, the Braves, still economizing, did not re-sign Lopez, opting instead for their rising young star.
"I sat down and told myself, 'Don't try to replace Javy Lopez. Don't try to replace Kevin Millwood,' " Estrada said.
He's happy to be himself, and prepared for 2004 with that in mind. Instead of going back to North Carolina, home of wife Jennifer, he spent the offseason in Fresno, Calif., where he grew up and went to college, and where the weather allowed him to train every day. The couple is expecting another child in September. They close on their first house when Estrada returns from this road trip next week, thereby assuring peace in the manor.
"[Jennifer] was kind of getting to her boiling point," Estrada said. "We're going to settle in Atlanta. Finally, move our stuff out of storage."
If he keeps playing like he is, he won't have anything in storage again for a long time.
Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004
Giving peace a chance
Wagner, Cooper trying to resolve medical issues
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
The words stung, as Billy Wagner knew they would. It is a price he deemed worthy of a better relationship with Phillies trainer Jeff Cooper, the man responsible for his well being.
Wagner, acquired as the offseason keystone in a rebuilt bullpen, on Wednesday publicly aired his frustrations with what he called Cooper's lack of communication and his rigidity in treatment courses on Wagner's dissolved back spasms and nagging groin strain.
Yesterday they reconciled.
"Today was a big step," said Wagner, visibly relieved and typically impish. "Me and 'Coop' love each other. We're expecting our first child."
All kidding aside, Wagner and Cooper met for 15 minutes before batting practice yesterday to work out their issues. They are:
Cooper, who does not talk with the media, declined to give Wagner muscle relaxants when Wagner experienced a recurrence of back spasms that struck Wagner on May 8; Wagner got them on his own and, he said, they worked.
Wagner then strained his chronically balky left groin May 13, went on the disabled list, followed Cooper's rehab plan and aggravated the injury Saturday. He then abandoned Cooper's plan, saying it brought him back too quickly and wasn't aggressive enough in working the strained muscle. His relationship with Cooper soured by then, Wagner struck a compromise with assistant trainer Mark Andersen that incorporated rehab techniques he used when the injury flared while he was with Houston.
All of that, said Wagner, he and Cooper discussed. Finally. After a quantified "bleepload" of publications forced it. As in:
"There were a bleepload of reasons why we had that meeting," Wagner said. As for his conflict with Cooper, Wagner was philosophical.
"Any time you come to an organization you're going to bump heads with somebody," said the 32-year-old Wagner, an Astro his whole career before being acquired in an offseason trade.
As for Wagner's return, the closer declined to set a date. He indicated that he could throw off the mound within a week and that a return to the active roster would be within a few days of that. At least, that's what he and his new best friend discussed.
"I thought the forum of communication needed to be opened," Wagner said. "He's not a big talker."
As any counselor will tell you, all it takes is a little talk to patch things up.
Johnny be good
They knew that he would.
The Phillies dealt what they considered a surefire gem when they sent perennial catcher-of-the-future Johnny Estrada to Atlanta in the no-brainer deal on Dec. 20, 2002 that landed them No. 1 starter Kevin Millwood in a cost-cutting measure by the Braves.
Millwood proceeded to pitch a no-hitter last season and anchor a strong staff for the Phillies. After yet another season of waiting in the minors, Estrada is the second-best hitting catcher in the National League, with a .328 average.
"We're not surprised," Phils general manager Ed Wade said. "Given the opportunity, we thought Johnny would be an outstanding everyday catcher on both sides of the plate. We're happy for him."
Said Estrada: "I'm very happy for myself and my family. Especially to start this season well."
It has been a trial of patience for Estrada. He was forced into part-time starting duty in 2001 after just 32 Triple A games when Mike Lieberthal blew out his knee, and found himself a fiery baptism victim in Larry Bowa's first year as manager. A full 2002 in Triple A prepared him, he believed, to start every day in the majors but the Braves had Javy Lopez on the last year of his contract, so Estrada found himself in Richmond.
"I was kind of down in the dumps about it," Estrada said. "But I didn't make the mistake of going down and pouting about it. I had to kick myself in the butt every day."
He's got a kick like a mule. Estrada ranked second in the International League with a .328 average, third with a .393 on-base percentage and struck out only 30 times in 354 at-bats...but Lopez proceeded to have one of the best offensive years in the history of catching. However, the Braves, still economizing, did not re-sign Lopez, opting instead for their rising young star.
"I sat down and told myself, 'Don't try to replace Javy Lopez. Don't try to replace Kevin Millwood,' " Estrada said.
He's happy to be himself, and prepared for 2004 with that in mind. Instead of going back to North Carolina, home of wife Jennifer, he spent the offseason in Fresno, Calif., where he grew up and went to college, and where the weather allowed him to train every day. The couple is expecting another child in September. They close on their first house when Estrada returns from this road trip next week, thereby assuring peace in the manor.
"[Jennifer] was kind of getting to her boiling point," Estrada said. "We're going to settle in Atlanta. Finally, move our stuff out of storage."
If he keeps playing like he is, he won't have anything in storage again for a long time.