GaryMrMets
05-28-2004, 04:29 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s052804i.htm
Phils' Wagner makes peace with Cooper
Friday, May 28, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
A day after publicly discussing a clash with team trainer Jeff Cooper over treatment methods, Phillies closer Billy Wagner met with Cooper to hash out their differences.
Wagner said before Thursday's game against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park that the air has been cleared, to the point where he joked, "Now me and Coop love each other, and we're expecting our first child."
The quip was, if anything, an acknowledgement that Wagner's comments Wednesday, an expression of frustration over his prolonged stay on the disabled list, came off more as a questioning of Cooper's skills.
"I felt like a very big shadow was cast over him," Wagner said.
Wagner remains on the DL with a strained left groin suffered May 13 and aggravated last Saturday, when he tried pitching in a simulated game in hopes of being activated the next day. He later said he wasn't ready to throw when he did.
He said Wednesday that Cooper's program for rehabbing his injury wasn't working and that he was reverting to methods used by Houston Astros trainers whenever he suffered the injury in the past.
Cooper, who is in his 24th year as the Phillies' head trainer, maintains a policy of not speaking to the media. As he did Wednesday, Wagner insisted he meant no disrespect to Cooper.
"Any time you come to a new organization, you're going to butt heads with somebody," Wagner said. "But I've always respected him. He's been in baseball as long as I've been alive."
Wagner said his training regimen is now a combination of things that he wants to do and elements that Cooper prescribes. He also hoped Thursday's meeting would improve communication between player and trainer, something he said was lacking before.
"It's a compromise," Wagner said. "I'm still doing some of the things he wanted me to do.
"He had the same plan I did, but we were just not able to communicate. I'm frustrated, I'm an aggressive ballplayer, and he's not very talkative. . . . He told me, 'I want you to play.' "
Wagner ran on the field before Thursday's game but said he still doesn't know when he might try throwing off a mound again. He has not appeared in a game since May 7.
Phillies fodder: Former Phillie Johnny Estrada arrived at Citizens Bank Park ranked 10th in the National League in hitting (.331) as the Braves' every-day catcher.
He batted fifth Thursday against the player for whom he was traded in December 2002, right-hander Kevin Millwood. "It seems like it's working for both of us," Estrada said. "Hopefully both teams are happy with the deal." . . . Right-hander Vicente Padilla has reported no problems after throwing a side session on flat ground Wednesday and is expected to make his start Saturday. He nearly missed his last start with elbow soreness.
Phils' Wagner makes peace with Cooper
Friday, May 28, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
A day after publicly discussing a clash with team trainer Jeff Cooper over treatment methods, Phillies closer Billy Wagner met with Cooper to hash out their differences.
Wagner said before Thursday's game against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park that the air has been cleared, to the point where he joked, "Now me and Coop love each other, and we're expecting our first child."
The quip was, if anything, an acknowledgement that Wagner's comments Wednesday, an expression of frustration over his prolonged stay on the disabled list, came off more as a questioning of Cooper's skills.
"I felt like a very big shadow was cast over him," Wagner said.
Wagner remains on the DL with a strained left groin suffered May 13 and aggravated last Saturday, when he tried pitching in a simulated game in hopes of being activated the next day. He later said he wasn't ready to throw when he did.
He said Wednesday that Cooper's program for rehabbing his injury wasn't working and that he was reverting to methods used by Houston Astros trainers whenever he suffered the injury in the past.
Cooper, who is in his 24th year as the Phillies' head trainer, maintains a policy of not speaking to the media. As he did Wednesday, Wagner insisted he meant no disrespect to Cooper.
"Any time you come to a new organization, you're going to butt heads with somebody," Wagner said. "But I've always respected him. He's been in baseball as long as I've been alive."
Wagner said his training regimen is now a combination of things that he wants to do and elements that Cooper prescribes. He also hoped Thursday's meeting would improve communication between player and trainer, something he said was lacking before.
"It's a compromise," Wagner said. "I'm still doing some of the things he wanted me to do.
"He had the same plan I did, but we were just not able to communicate. I'm frustrated, I'm an aggressive ballplayer, and he's not very talkative. . . . He told me, 'I want you to play.' "
Wagner ran on the field before Thursday's game but said he still doesn't know when he might try throwing off a mound again. He has not appeared in a game since May 7.
Phillies fodder: Former Phillie Johnny Estrada arrived at Citizens Bank Park ranked 10th in the National League in hitting (.331) as the Braves' every-day catcher.
He batted fifth Thursday against the player for whom he was traded in December 2002, right-hander Kevin Millwood. "It seems like it's working for both of us," Estrada said. "Hopefully both teams are happy with the deal." . . . Right-hander Vicente Padilla has reported no problems after throwing a side session on flat ground Wednesday and is expected to make his start Saturday. He nearly missed his last start with elbow soreness.