Cooper, Garland scoff at major rift with A.J.

[DBAHO]

Oh boy;

 

CLEVELAND -- White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper admitted Wednesday that he and catcher A.J. Pierzynski had an ''animated disagreement'' in the clubhouse in June.

But as far as rumors that Cooper wanted Pierzynski traded or was told by pitcher Jon Garland that he also wanted Pierzynski moved this offseason, all three parties vehemently denied that scenario, and they did so in front of each other before taking the field against the Indians.

 

The rumor began with a major-league scout allegedly putting out a story that Pierzynski and Cooper were at odds this year.

 

Garland laughed at the idea that he had any problem with Pierzynski, while Cooper and Pierzynski openly talked about the ''disagreements'' they had this year and how it was common for a pitching coach and catcher to have different opinions throughout a season.

 

 

''There are absolutely no problems going on here,'' Cooper said. ''If someone is trying to create problems through words about us, it is fabricated. It's wrong. It's manufactured.

 

''From time to time, he and I might not always be on the same page because that's the nature of our jobs. We are on the same page, but maybe we have some disagreements from time to time. There's nothing wrong with those disagreements because we communicate after that. I have no problem with him. The problem we have is that we didn't get it done on the field.''

 

Cooper and Pierzynski said it was in June when Cooper wasn't happy with the way the veteran catcher was setting up as a target behind the plate.

 

Both agreed the talk got animated, but both also said they discussed it again the next day and it was much ado about nothing.

 

Cooper also said that he absolutely wants Pierzynski back for as long as the catcher wants to play for the Sox and that those who doubt Pierzynski does a good job can look at his World es ring.

 

''He and I both want to win,'' Cooper said. ''There were some things that he and I talked about where I thought he could do more things to help us because we weren't dominating like last year. Last year, there were a lot of accolades at me and the catchers and all the pitchers. But it's probably 98 percent the pitcher and 2 percent the catcher, and going along with that, it's zero for me.

 

''When the pitchers aren't doing well, the pitching coach and the catcher have to look and see, 'How can we help that pitcher?' We're trying to be the solution, not the problem. But the nature of the relationship with the catcher and the pitcher at times can get ... different ideas can collide. We didn't dominate like last year, but we were far from being horse[bleep]. We'll take the blame. If people want to look for blame, we'll carry that burden.''

 

Garland seemed almost taken back by the idea that he and Pierzynski didn't get along.

 

''I don't even remember ever having a disagreement,'' Garland said. ''I don't always agree with some of the stuff he does sometimes, but I don't think half the league does, either. Shouting match? I never heard of that one.''

[Wanne]

Cooper and Pierzynski said it was in June when Cooper wasn't happy with the way the veteran catcher was setting up as a target behind the plate.

 

Both agreed the talk got animated, but both also said they discussed it again the next day and it was much ado about nothing.

 

I brought this up in a post sometime this summer....only to get lamented for how catchers usually set up. I know how catchers set up...I've pitched in various leagues throughout my life. But at the time I brought this up...I swear...AJ was all over the place and seemed to not even set the glove until the ball was actually being delivered. He seemed to shore it up pretty well shortyly after I noticed it.

[Controlled Chaos]

Yeah this rebuttle from the players and coop stems from this article (relevant excerpt posted below) where DeLuca states theres a rift. I have to say when I read this article it's the first I had ever heard of any problems between AJ, Garland or Cooper. Things like that aren't usually kept quite.

 

 

DON'T DEAL CREDE OR A.J.

The emergence of prospect Josh Fields has turned up the heat on the talk of trading Joe Crede to avoid a showdown the following offseason with agent Scott Boras. Despite a bad back, Crede had a career year. His defense is too valuable, and his offense is living up to its lofty expectations. There also have been rumors throughout baseball that catcher A.J. Pierzynski could be trade bait. The Sox have no other options behind the plate and won't find another catcher with similar hitting skills. Pierzynski needs to patch up a strained relationship with pitching coach Don Cooper and emerging ace Jon Garland.

[RockRaines]

I brought this up in a post sometime this summer....only to get lamented for how catchers usually set up. I know how catchers set up...I've pitched in various leagues throughout my life. But at the time I brought this up...I swear...AJ was all over the place and seemed to not even set the glove until the ball was actually being delivered. He seemed to shore it up pretty well shortyly after I noticed it.

I will say this quickly, and I am not saying he is anywhere as good as AJ or anything like that, but I really liked how Stew set up last night. AJ is lazy setting up, which hurts him sometimes, and Sandy sets up too far outside 80 percent of the time. I also do not feel that AJ uses high fastball quite as much as he should.