Notes: Lenny Harris

A good lennry harris article....

Notes: Less is more for Lenny

"I'm the type of player they don't pay to play every day."

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

Lenny Harris, seen during Spring Training, ends the year in a race for the postseason. (Eric Risberg/AP)

SAN FRANCISCO -- With veteran Lenny Harris, less usually is more.

The Marlins' 38-year-old pinch-hit specialist, brought up from Triple-A Friday, is at his best when he is not being overused.

"I'm the type of player they don't pay to play every day," Harris said jokingly. "I'm the type of player who goes out there and enjoys myself. I fit right in."

Harris, who played most of the season with the Cubs before being released, signed with the Marlins a few weeks ago and spent time getting at-bats at Triple-A Albuquerque.

A Miami native, Harris is glad to be returning home. Though he was disappointed to be let go by the Cubs, he welcomes the opportunity to help the Marlins win the Wild Card race.

He previously played for Marlins manager Jack McKeon in Cincinnati.

"I've played for Jack before, and he knows if he doesn't play me for three weeks, I can still go out there and perform," Harris said. "There is no place like home. Things didn't work out in Chicago. At 38, I can't play every day. I'm a part-time player."

Harris holds the Major League record for pinch-hits, and he extended his mark to 178 by coming off the bench and singling in the ninth inning of Friday's 6-4 loss to the Giants.

Harris, who has played for eight teams, had a chance to sign with the Marlins before the season. He actually considering a Florida offer until the Cubs presented him with a deal for $800,000, with a chance to earn another $200,000 with incentives.

"Things didn't work out the way I thought they would in Chicago," he said. "I was kind of disappointed that I had to leave, but I don't pull the strings. I was surprised, but I've been around 15 years. Anything can happen in this game."

In addition to an occasional hit or some spot defense, the Marlins hope to gain by Harris' leadership and experience. He has been to the postseason five times, including a World Series with the Mets.

"This team has a lot of energy," Harris said of the Marlins. "They never quit. We had guys in [the Cubs]clubhouse who said, 'Those Marlins, they never quit.' That's how we looked at them."

D-Train meets Blue: From the start of Spring Training, high-kicking rookie Dontrelle Willis has been compared with former Cy Young winner and MVP Vida Blue.

Long before Willis was swinging his leg skyward, Blue used a similar delivery when he broke in with the A's.

For about five minutes, Blue spoke with Willis in the Marlins' clubhouse before Saturday's game. The ever-respectful rookie said, "Mr. Blue, it's nice to meet you."

"He's a very well-grounded young man," said Blue. "There is so much attention on him. He's going to have to learn to say, 'No.'"

Willis has met a number of former greats over the past few months.

Last weekend at Pro Player Stadium, the 21-year-old spoke with Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield, who preached to Willis to respect the game and not take anything for granted.

Lineup shakeup: Eager to try anything to snap the offense out of its road woes, McKeon shuffled the top of the order for Saturday's game.

Luis Castillo and Juan Pierre were flip-flopped, as were Mike Lowell and Ivan Rodriguez.

For the first time under McKeon, the beginning of the order was Castillo, Pierre, Lowell, and Rodriguez. For months the lineup was almost etched in stone, starting with Pierre, Castillo, Rodriguez and Lowell.

"It's a shot in the dark," McKeon said.

A leadoff hitter until this season, Castillo has started first in the order 11 times, compared with 118 for Pierre. Saturday was the 10th time Lowell batted third, and the fourth game in which Rodriguez batted cleanup.

Remembering Bobby Bonds: When McKeon was managing in the American League in the 1970s, his teams got to face Bobby Bonds, who passed away Saturday morning.

McKeon received a call midmorning from the Giants, informing him that there would be lineup changes. Initially, McKeon thought that Barry Bonds was getting a day off. Shortly afterward, the manager learned of Bobby Bonds' death.

"He was a good player," McKeon said of Bobby Bonds. "I remember seeing him playing a lot. I think he got recognized as a guy who struck out a lot, but I think people overlooked the fact that he was a home run hitter, a base stealer and a good defensive outfielder. They overlook the fact he was a 30-30 guy. His batting average wasn't too bad."

Down on the farm: Triple-A Albuquerque reclaimed first place in the Central Division of the Pacific Coast League with a 9-6 victory at Iowa Friday.

Aaron Small (5-4) allowed five runs in six innings, but had enough run support to pick up the win. Gerald Williams went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Catcher Matt Treanor added two hits and a homer.

Double-A Carolina edged Huntsville, 4-3, lifted by Billy Hall barreling over the catcher for the decisive run in the eighth. Hall had two hits, two runs scored and stole two bases.

Jim Kavourias had two hits in Class A Jupiter's 3-1 loss to Palm Beach.

The skipper says: "I don't know why teams struggle out here. It could be the water. But everybody dreads [cross-country travel]. Maybe it takes a day or two to get acclimated." -- McKeon on the struggles out West