News
Wagner feeling a lot more comfortable
Veteran closer works scoreless inning in second spring outing
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
03/09/10 11:41 PM ET
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- This wasn't the raucous setting that Billy Wagner will encounter while pitching at Turner Field or Citizens Bank Park this year, but it certainly was more frenzied than the atmosphere he was experiencing at this time last year while throwing batting practice to his 10-year-old son and his friends from the Crozet (Va.) Little League.Operating under the impression that he would miss the entire 2009 season while rehabbing from the Tommy John surgery he had undergone the previous September, Wagner enjoyed those peaceful days around the Little Leaguers and never thought there would actually be a chance to make the 17 late-season relief appearances that proved impressive enough for the Braves to bring him to Atlanta to serve as their new closer.
"I was told I was done, so I wasn't killing myself to get back," said Wagner, who did just that for the Mets and Red Sox last year.
Using this same easygoing approach, Wagner certainly wasn't stressing after allowing the Pirates a pair of runs and struggling with his command during his Grapefruit League debut last Friday.
The veteran closer appeared to be even more relaxed on Tuesday night after working a scoreless inning during the Braves' 7-4 loss to the Phillies at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex.
"It's not the bad outing that eats you up in Spring Training," he said. "It's the mechanics of what you're trying to accomplish, because you know when you get to that point where you're mechanically sound, you can make the adjustments quicker and go out there and be effective."
When Wagner entered the game at the top of the fourth inning, he was greeted by a loud chorus of boos from Phillies fans, who used to cheer him when he served as Philadelphia's closer in 2004 and '05.
"Some things never change," Wagner said, laughing.
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Tuesday's latest outing certainly started more auspiciously than Friday's, which began with a leadoff walk. Wagner opened this appearance with a strikeout of Jayson Werth, who has gone 2-for-4 in his career against the veteran.
Then, after having the misfortune of seeing his tight slider strike the right-handed-hitting Ben Francisco in the right foot, Wagner ended his assignment against the Phillies with Brian Schneider's double-play groundout.
"Wags was really good," manager Bobby Cox said. "He wanted to work on his pickoff move."
After hitting Francisco, Wagner threw to first base four times, and subsequently was greeted at the mound by an inquisitive Brian McCann, who wanted to know if his new closer was thinking he was seeing a sign to throw over to first base.
"He said, 'Am I putting down the wrong sign?" and I said, 'No, I'm just working on something,' " Wagner said of the conversation with his catcher.
At 38 years old and just 15 saves shy of becoming the fifth Major Leaguer to ever record 400, Wagner will continue working on things with the hope that by the time Opening Day arrives on April 5, he'll be even better than he was on March 9.
"There's still a lot of work left to do, but this was a lot better than the last outing," he said. "I was more comfortable and had a lot better feel for the ball."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
