The former pitching coach, who battled cancer, is just glad to be back.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Two weeks before his next cancer checkup, Tony Cloninger knelt on his right knee behind the mound and flipped balls to Tim Wakefield during batting practice.

One day later, on Monday, he worked with another Red Sox pitcher, Mike Timlin.

Cloninger’s energy is back, and he’s finding his role with Boston even though he was disappointed when he lost his job as pitching coach and Dave Wallace took over.

“I’ve always been a person to be able to pick up and know my duties and do them to the best of my ability,” Cloninger said. “Everyone’s treated me great this spring.”

He was diagnosed with bladder cancer last March 12 but stayed with the team until June 6 when he took a leave of absence. Wallace became interim pitching coach on June 9 and held that job after a still weak Cloninger returned on Aug. 30.

Cloninger, who pitched 12 seasons with the Braves, Reds and Cardinals, is a favorite of pitchers for his father-figure attention to their personal concerns as well as his pitching knowledge.

His future was uncertain after last season, especially after Terry Francona became manager and kept Wallace as pitching coach. But the team gave him some good news.

“The Red Sox told me I had a lifetime job. That was very big,” he said. “I understand the Red Sox now more than probably I did when I was at home wondering what’s going on. I understand that the Red Sox probably we’re saying, ‘We want to make sure this guy is healthy.”‘

Now in his new role as senior pitching adviser, Cloninger said his last two checkups showed he was free of cancer. He expects to return to his oncologist in North Carolina on March 12 for X-rays. If they turn out OK, he will have three chemotherapy maintenance treatments one week apart.

“Bladder cancer can come back like any cancer,” he said, “but it’s very curable.”

He even found time amid his own problems to counsel reliever Scott Williamson, who was going through a very difficult time last season.

Williamson’s first child, Scott Reece, was born July 25 in Cincinnati and his wife, Lisa, had serious problems that drove her blood pressure to a dangerously high level. And just four days later, with her still hospitalized, Williamson was traded by the Reds to the Red Sox.

Distracted, he struggled early then had a heart-to-heart discussion with Cloninger over lunch.

“Tony definitely has a big spot in my heart. He put a lot of stuff in perspective for me,” Williamson said. “He gave the confidence to me with just a few words and I went out there and had some success. I couldn’t wait to get to spring training so I could see him.”

Cloninger, 63, worked on Williamson, 28, to regain his feeling that he could dominate all hitters.

“I explained that I’d been through adversity. Everyone goes through it,” Cloninger said. “He had a new baby and he was trying to do well and I think he was just overwhelmed with everything. He felt comfortable talking to me.”

Cloninger also has made a potentially awkward relationship comfortable for Wallace.

“He’s got special relationships with certain pitchers so you use that as a source,” Wallace said. “He’s been so professional. He’s gone way beyond the call of duty.”

Cloninger’s regular-season duties haven’t been determined but he will work at the major-league level, attending many home games and some road games. He doesn’t want to step on the toes of Wallace or manager Terry Francona.

“Tony’s a tremendous person,” Francona said. “It was a unique situation. You had two guys that are qualified.”

Cloninger thinks he had cancer late in the 2002 season, his first with Boston, and wasn’t diagnosed until six months later. He worked until early June then went home to North Carolina, rested and worked on his farm.

“I feel very fortunate that I was able to work as much as I did last year, maybe worked too long,” he said. “I went home after the season, and I feel good now.”

Notes:CF Johnny Damon isn’t expected to hit Tuesday and Wednesday because of a minor problem with his non-throwing elbow. … Closer Keith Foulke threw on the side Monday while other pitchers threw batting practice. Foulke is recovering from a minor calf strain. … RHP Ramiro Mendoza, more seriously injured with an abdominal strain, played catch from 75 feet but was restricted during the stretching exercises.

AP-ES-03-01-04 1746EST