Harris eager to join playoff race

 

By Mike Berardino

Staff Writer

Posted August 20 2003

 

DENVER ? The last time Lenny Harris was in the minor leagues, it was 1989 and he was playing for Triple-A Nashville as a Cincinnati Reds farmhand.

 

Nostalgia has yet to overtake Harris after a week with Triple-A Albuquerque. Asked if any part of this tune-up assignment has been fun, Harris didn't hesitate.

 

"No," he said. "This is the last time I'll ever be here."

 

Harris, the majors' career leader with 177 pinch hits, hopes to join the Marlins in time for the stretch drive. Though he was hitting .200 (4 for 20) with the Isotopes, with a double, an RBI and three strikeouts, Harris said his swing is back where he wants it.

 

"I'm swinging perfect," he said Tuesday afternoon from his Des Moines, Iowa, motel room. "[The Marlins]just wanted me to come down and get me some at-bats. I feel comfortable already. I knew it wasn't going to take me long."

 

Harris, 38, signed a minor league contract with the Marlins on Aug. 8 after the Chicago Cubs released him. Unlike reliever Chad Fox, who signed at the same time, Harris' contract includes no provisions for a mandatory promotion.

 

With the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility fast approaching, Harris can hear the clock ticking. After making it to the playoffs three times before -- 1995 Reds, 1999 Diamondbacks and 2000 Mets -- he badly wants another crack at a ring.

 

The chance to do it with his hometown team would only make it sweeter for the Miami Jackson and Miami-Dade North product, who has been playing first base in Albuquerque.

 

"Oh, yeah, definitely," said Harris, who lives in Miami Gardens with his wife, Carnettia, and their two young daughters. "That's where I'm big, the postseason. I'm eager to get there. That's what it's all about. That's what I play for. A September call-up is not going to do me any good."

 

Harris, a left-handed batter, is 2 for 11 (.182) in the postseason, but his career pinch-hitting average is .261 in 678 at-bats.

 

Marlins pinch hitters entered Tuesday sixth in the National League with a .230 batting average and a .305 on-base percentage. They were tied for 14th, however, with one home run and 13 RBI, but had just 148 pinch at-bats (14th).

 

With the Cubs, Harris hit just .183 with a homer and seven RBI in 131 at-bats. Most troubling, he was 4 for 32 (.125) as a pinch hitter with one RBI, but Harris insists he isn't through.

 

"I have a lot left in my tank," he said. "It just didn't work out in Chicago. I've got so much fire built up in me after what happened. That's not the way I'm supposed to leave this game."

 

NO CONTACT

 

Marlins left-hander Mark Redman said no one from Major League Baseball had contacted him as of Tuesday afternoon regarding his recent comments about umpire Jim Wolf.

 

A published report Tuesday quoted MLB official Sandy Alderson as saying Redman could expect a call from discipline czar Bob Watson. A fine or censure was possible, the report stated.

 

If Watson calls, Redman said he would "tell him what the situation is."

 

After losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, Redman said players wonder about Wolf's objectivity when his brother, Randy, is a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Redman has since distanced himself from those comments. ...

 

Third baseman Mike Lowell had an ice pack on his lower left leg before Tuesday's game but said it was just a sprained ankle. He suffered the injury going back to first base on a pickoff attempt Sunday.

 

Mike Berardino can be reached at mberardino@sun-sentinel.com.

I don't think Harris has done anything to show he deserves to be on our postseason roster over anybody currently in the majors.

 

Sure our PH has been bad, but Hollandsworth has gone 4 for 11 as a PH with an 1.318 OPS. Since Cabrera became our regular LF, Hollandsworth has moved to the bench where he belongs (though not at this salary) and made our bench and PH stronger.

 

Besides, the guy he'd most likely replace, Mike Mordecai, has hit two game-winning HRs after coming in as a late inning replacement, a role that Harris would fill. Lenny Harris doesn't have 2 HRs all year.

 

I think replacing Hollandsworth as the primary left-handed pinch hitter and Mordecai as a utility guy with Lenny Harris weakens our team.

 

As far as veteran leadership, didn't Mordecai play on some playoff teams with the Braves?

He can replace fox.

He can replace fox.

Why? What has Lenny Harris done this year that warrants putting him on our post-season roster? He's 38 years old. He may be washed up.

 

If somebody got legitimately hurt, I'd bring him up. But otherwise, I'd rather just go with the guys that got us this far.

Just got back from NC backpacking trip to find us a half game out. Anyone who likes backpacking the Nantahala Mt are beautiful! Anyway since this topic says Harris AND the minors I'll through this blurb out....Blaine Neal is pitching quite well in Albuquerque...struck out the side last night in a one run game and has lowered his ERA to 2.63 allowing only one homer in 41IP...good for playing in a hitters paradise.

 

most likely a Sept callup.

Here's a couple of posts from the Isotopes forum that may shed some light on Lenny Harris and Gerald Williams. Enjoy.

 

Lenny Harris:

 

Posted by topefan:

that fat @ss cost the game with his little league style of fielding by trying to bail on the ball and losing it because he couldn't see it under his fat gut. he has never been a fielder and Treanor made a horrible mistake by putting him in there. I thought for sure he would take him out for Donnels in the 8th or 9th. That isn't the first time Treanor showed his dumb side with lineups this year, and surly won't be the last. Lenny Harris svcks balls. He is just a pinch hitter, not a fielder. He looked like crap all night, and loved when he almost threw the ball into left in the 9th after the little league error. Idiot. @sshole of the moment award goes to Treanor for putting him in the lineup.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

posted by ISOMAN:

Lenny's reply: Foo wat u talkin 'bout? That ball wuz hit hard, kind of like when mama gets mad. It's all cherry, wuz nutin, but a tiny error. Now come on and give a brother a hug!

 

Treanors reply: Ha, I am the Manager for the Albuquerque Isotopes. I make the call and I know I made a good one. I don't make mistakes, I make good things happen. I am on my way to Florida, and I know you will regret when I am gone!

 

Thing is topesfan is correct, Lenny blew the game for us...and was worthless at bat. He is only used to seeing the ball everyone once in a while, keep it that way. My record of 38 games stops right there. I only need two, to make 40, but lenny only needed to bend over to get the grounder!

 

On Gerald Williams:

 

Disappointment in Gerald Williams behavior

posted by Ricky1

My husband and I are proud to be Isotope fans; holding season tickets close to the Isotope dugout. Unfortunately, last night during the crucial moments of the game we were surprised and disappointed to witness Gerald Williams stepping out of the dugout and making several attempts to entice two attractive, young ladies. He seemed more interested in them than keeping up with the game, seeming to miss Chad Allen's double down the left field line. As a senior player,we thought he would understand the importance of impressions on the field! Up until last night we were huge fans of his and can only hope he re-focuses on the success of the team the rest of the season.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I'm no big fan of Andy Fox (which should NOT be read as I don't like Andy, he's adequate as a bench player) but neither of these guys seem, at least from the above noted posts, deserves an opportunity to make it back to the Bigs. :thumbdown

Familiar with the talents of Lenny Harris, I have followed him daily since he joined the Isotopes. He has been LOUSY. No way we bring him up. Period. He's finished, trying to capitilize on his past reputation. (Berardino's article was an inaccurate insult to all of us. Harris is "swinging good." What total BS!

I was excited to hear Lenny H would be coming to Albq but it only took one game for me to come back down to earth. He seriously can't field and through the 8 at bats I saw, he looked like a traffic cone at the plate. Now, Chad Allen on the other hand - he can make some noise.

No,i don't like allen he was up in the majors at the beggining of the season and i don't like him so much but if your talking about september callups he's here maybe.

No,i don't like allen he was up in the majors at the beggining of the season and i don't like him so much but if your talking about september callups he's here maybe.

Allen has been nothing but solid for us in the pros

I really don't know man how is he doing,whats his average?

Sorry, nevermind. I read Chad and started thinking Chad Fox instead of Chad Allen.

I want Harris to come up. He would be a very good Teacher (like Redman) to the Young guys. He has the Experience and can really help us out alot in the race for the WC but i wont replace him with Fox....

I was excited to hear Lenny H would be coming to Albq but it only took one game for me to come back down to earth. He seriously can't field and through the 8 at bats I saw, he looked like a traffic cone at the plate. Now, Chad Allen on the other hand - he can make some noise.

 

Consider Lenny Harris with 20 plus AB's! Nothing. He can't make it in AAA. Was an interesting move for us (I approved) but it didn't work. Forget him.

I want Harris to come up. He would be a very good Teacher (like Redman) to the Young guys. He has the Experience and can really help us out alot in the race for the WC but i wont replace him with Fox....

he could be a good teacher?

 

of how to suck at multiple positions?

 

:lol

he could be a good teacher?

 

of how to suck at multiple positions?

Actually....No.

 

He has the experience of all these years he has played and he can teach the players about hitters.

why would Lenny Harris teach the players about hitters?

Lenny Harris not only has post-seaosn experience, but pinch-hitting post-season experience. Modi is the only other player on our 25-man roster that has a post-season pinch-hit appearence.