Best of luck All-Time...

 

Release jolts pinch-hits leader Harris

By Joe Capozzi

 

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

 

Thursday, March 30, 2006

 

JUPITER ? Long before he arrived in Jupiter last month to begin spring training, 41-year-old Lenny Harris knew the Marlins were going with a much younger team this season.

 

But Harris ? baseball's all-time leader in pinch-hits ? thought he still had a good chance to keep his place on a roster that could have as many as 11 rookies.

 

Harris arrived Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium for what he called the biggest jolt of his 18-year career in the majors. Harris said he was told by manager Joe Girardi and General Manager Admin Beinfest that there was no room for him.

 

"They said they wanted to go with speed, guys who are still young,'' said Harris, who has 212 career pinch-hits. "I just looked at them, listened to them and I said, 'OK, thank you.' "

 

Harris, a Miami native, will seek work with another team but might have to retire.

 

"He has put in a lot of great service," Girardi said. "It's hard to tell someone like Lenny you're not going to go with us to start the year.''

 

Harris' departure leaves the Marlins with no left-handed hitters on the bench.

 

He signed with Florida in August 2003, reuniting with then-manager Jack McKeon, his former manager with Cincinnati.

 

With McKeon, Harris said he went into spring training the past two years knowing he had a job. Even with a new manager this year, Harris was confident because he hit.314 last season, with 22 hits in 70 at-bats.

 

"I still thought I was safe, especially coming off a year like I had," said Harris, who would have made $450,000 this season. "Then getting released? I did what I could do.''

i feel for him, dude shoulda been kept. he coulda been a leader, and you can't not want the all-time best pinch-hitter.

thanks for the pinch-hits Lenny.

He is obviously a better player than a lot of guys right now on the roster...but sadly youth supercedes current talent at this point.

More on Lenny's release...

 

Pinched: Release surprises Lenny Harris

 

By Juan C. Rodriguez

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Posted March 30 2006

 

 

JUPITER ? Speaking eight hours after the fact, Lenny Harris still sounded like someone jabbed him in the gut with a bat handle.

 

The reality of his situation was just starting to set in. His tenure with the Marlins was over.

 

Wednesday, the Marlins released baseball's all-time pinch-hit record holder, five days before the start of the regular season. Though surrounded by players close to half his age this spring, the 41-year-old Harris didn't see this coming.

 

"It definitely caught me by surprise," said Harris, signed as a free agent in August 2003 in time for the World Series run. "I never thought that was going to happen to me like that ... I'm still kind of shook up. I thought I was still going to be around to educate [the young guys] a little more about the game. I guess it wasn't that important."

 

A product of Miami Jackson High School and a Miami resident, Harris hopes to resume his career elsewhere. He said the Marlins indicated to him they were building their roster around defense and quickness.

 

Harris has seen limited action on the diamond in recent years, but he insists he can play a serviceable second, third, and outfield if given the chance.

 

Looking back, Harris doesn't regret signing a minor-league deal with the Marlins instead of a more veteran club. He did wish the Marlins had told him their plans sooner.

 

"Especially after having a year like I just had, I probably got a little comfortable," said Harris, who hit .314 in 83 games last season. "If I had a bad year last year I would not have considered coming back."

 

Harris said he hopes he receives a call from another team, saying he still has "a lot of baseball in me."

 

Dubbed "All-Time" because of his record, Harris has 212 career pinch-hits, 62 more than second-place Manny Mota.

thanks for the pinch-hits Lenny.

 

 

 

exctly ... but I still feel for him. I dont understand why can't they offer him a coaching job. Or just simply ask him to come along for the ride (I dont know if thats possible, but I've seen other players come along for the season without being in the roster ... coach type players)

thanks for the pinch-hits Lenny.

 

 

**Remembers hit against Gagne** :thumbup

Thanks for those 2 and a half years Lenny, you were great, and you signed many autographs, and yes that hit against Eric Gagne was a classic back breaker to his streak of no runs allowed. It was Marlins history! Mr. All-Time was a great player!

I would have rather had all time there to lead the youngins rather then put that pressure on migs

At this point, it's hard to have any feelings regarding this subject, so, whatever

thanks for the pinch-hits Lenny.

 

 

**Remembers hit against Gagne** :thumbup

One of the best regular season moments in Fish history, easily.

He's definitely gonna be missed. He's great.

At this point, it's hard to have any feelings regarding this subject, so, whatever

 

 

Well your ridiculous and your hatred for him blinds you from realizing he will be missed and that his contributions were pretty big to the team behind the scenes.

Like I said, it's like finding a rock in your shoe after a long hike. It's just... whatever. Nothing you can do. Nothing you can't do. But to let it go.

Like I said, it's like finding a rock in your shoe after a long hike. It's just... whatever. Nothing you can do. Nothing you can't do. But to let it go.

 

Meh. He has a nice history with the Fish, and he'll be missed.

thanks for the pinch-hits Lenny.

exctly ... but I still feel for him. I dont understand why can't they offer him a coaching job. Or just simply ask him to come along for the ride (I dont know if thats possible, but I've seen other players come along for the season without being in the roster ... coach type players)I think (and hope) that if he doesn't catch on anywhere and retires, the Marlins will offer him a position with the club. He deserves it and he'd be a great addition to the staff.

 

Thanks for the memories, Lenny.

Like I said, it's like finding a rock in your shoe after a long hike. It's just... whatever. Nothing you can do. Nothing you can't do. But to let it go.

 

 

 

I second your opinion, Lenny was just meh.

could potentially be a great candidate for a hitting coaches position. Best of Luck Lenny. This will not be the last time we hear your name.

i'll miss him, he was a character and his bat off the bench would've been very useful this season, since younger guys usually arent as adapted to the pinch hitting role.

Like I said, it's like finding a rock in your shoe after a long hike. It's just... whatever. Nothing you can do. Nothing you can't do. But to let it go.

 

 

This has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read... If this is in an analogy to something, it should be your posts...

 

Regarding Lenny, I am really disappointed. I agree that we can probably fill a roster spot with someone else who needs a look or may be more versatile, but Lenny brings a veteran bat off the bench. He's a lot more versatile than people realize and he would have been a great influence for these young guys. From everything I've read from him, it seems like that was a huge motivating factor for him. He was looking forward to being an extra coach on this team.

 

I think this really sucks and I will miss Lenny. I hope he does catch on somewhere else very soon...

I don't think he should have got a spot on the roster, but I'd love to see him back as a coach.

thte point is regardless of whether or not he had an at bat this season it would have been worth the $450,000 just to have him on the team, now who is their oldest player? Brian Moehler? come on this is a joke, lenny meant a lot to this team the last 2 and a half years and he was one bright spot amongst the youngsters where people could say, yeah, they may be young, but lenny harris is going to teach them the ins and outs, and thats the right way to do things.

I've always loved Lenny and will miss him a lot. I would love to see him stay with the Marlins in some capacity. This is the kind of player who would be an asset to keep in the organization.

poor lenny, I always liked him.

:lol How many more crazy things can be said about lenny f'ing harris. this is lunacy. how can such an insignifcant player be lamented to such a degree and praised as being some key piece to this season and seasons past? im sure this will stir the hornet's nest of lenny lovers.