Harris talking about retirement

[PBMarlin]

From the Palm Beach Post

 

Harris talking about retirement

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, March 4, 2004

 

JUPITER -- Lenny Harris, baseball's all-time pinch-hit king, may be taking the last swings of his career this spring.

 

"Pretty much this will be it, make it or break it," Harris said Wednesday before he popped out as a pinch-hitter in Florida's 7-6 victory against the University of Miami.

 

Harris, a Miami native, isn't ready to say for sure that 2004 will be his last year in the majors. He wants to concentrate on winning a bench spot this spring so he can add to his record 181 pinch-hits, accumulated over a career that began in 1988.

 

"My last six seasons have been as an (spring-training) invitee, and I've made every team. This is the final one for me. I'm 39. I'll be 40 in October," he said. "A lot of guys are telling me, 'You've got a lot left in you,' which I do, but when you get to a certain age they pretty much look at it and say, 'When you're 40, that's it.' "

 

There aren't many players older than Harris on spring-training rosters this year. Julio Franco, a non-roster invitee with the Braves, is 45. Roger Clemens, Jamie Moyer and Edgar Martinez are 41. David Wells is 40, and Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro -- Harris' teammate at Miami Jackson High -- will turn 40 this season.

 

Harris thought about quitting after the 2002 season when he hit.183 for the Chicago Cubs. Even after Florida won the World Series, retirement crossed his mind again. But Juan Pierre ran the stairs with him in the off-season at Miami-Dade North Community College and encouraged him to return.

 

"One day in the big leagues was enough for me because a lot of people didn't think I had an opportunity to make it, and I did. But coming back and winning a title gave me a lot to breathe for. I want to see how it feels to play like a champion once you've become a champion."

 

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis said Harris was a big help in his rookie season last year by offering pitching tips from a hitter's perspective. But Willis isn't ready for Harris to retire.

 

"I hope he doesn't. I hope he stays around for a long time. He's one of those guys always willing to help and you can't help but cling to a guy like that," Willis said.

 

Harris has been told during the past few years that he should stay in baseball, even if he's not playing.

 

"Tim McCarver told me I can be a great manager some day. Maybe I will. Coaching is big for me," Harris said.

 

"But I figure while my body is still in great shape, I want to continue to play," he said. "That's where I get my motivation from, to come off the bench and win ballgames.

 

"There's no place like home. I took less money to come back home and play. I always wanted to play until I'm 40. It's a great place to be at home and walk away from it."

 

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[Wild Card]

I don't see it.

[catchoftheday]

big ups to lenny.

 

 

the dude doesnt have much to do but to stay in shape and maybe play a full game once in a while ... he can go on until he's 42-43 easily.

[geemoney]

I think he'd make a decent coach. Guys like him (PH's, bench guys) usually do.

[JBurque]

"But I figure while my body is still in great shape, I want to continue to play," he said.

 

:lol

[Fish Fry]

the dude doesnt have much to do but to stay in shape and maybe play a full game once in a while ... he can go on until he's 42-43 easily.

 

He's washed-up. I hope they don't waste another roster spot on him.

[AJB34]

He's washed-up. I hope they don't waste another roster spot on him.

what are you talking about. he came up with some clutch pinch hits last season. also realize this guy is mr. pinch hit.

 

so think about that before u say he shouldnt be on the roster

[Beinfest4Prez]

the dude doesnt have much to do but to stay in shape and maybe play a full game once in a while ... he can go on until he's 42-43 easily.

 

He's washed-up. I hope they don't waste another roster spot on him. You must be the most pessimistic poster on the boards...

 

 

If Lenny Harris didn't come when he did, Todd Hollandsworth's chances of hitting the clutch pinch hits he did are greatly diminished. Todd even said that Lenny Harris is a main reason why he did so well pinch hitting.

[AJBurnett34]

Lenny Harris has been very good throughout his career. He has done very solid with us and has delivered clutch hits in the post season. I will miss him for sure, he was/is a great hitter.

 

When he leaves we need to Improve our bench again with Harris and Hollandsworth gone.

[DaGreatOne]

I think he can become a good coach. You dont have to be too skilled to become a coach in MLB. I think you just have to be educated about the game and know how to communicate with your players and he shows that he can do both.

[Shamrock]

the dude doesnt have much to do but to stay in shape and maybe play a full game once in a while ... he can go on until he's 42-43 easily.

 

He's washed-up. I hope they don't waste another roster spot on him. agreed.

[catchoftheday]

man you all bashing lenny .... hes the man, id much rather have him to come and pinch hit than anyone in the majors, because you know he'll put the ball in play. so how is that wasting a spot on the roster.

[catchoftheday]

ohh and dont forget that he brings character to our club ... with the departure of Ozzie we need clowns like Lenny to keep everyone loose.

[Ramp]

man you all bashing lenny .... hes the man, id much rather have him to come and pinch hit than anyone in the majors, because you know he'll put the ball in play. so how is that wasting a spot on the roster.

???

 

i think i could name atleast 1

[catchoftheday]

yeah i mean there is ... but this guy is the all time leader in Pinch hits ... so why not go with the sure shot veteran

[PBMarlin]

ohh and dont forget that he brings character to our club ... with the departure of Ozzie we need clowns like Lenny to keep everyone loose.

Excellent point!

 

Ozzie was a major part of the chemistry last year. And Lenny could be a key ingredient to build it again this year. :notworthy

[Fish Fry]

what are you talking about. he came up with some clutch pinch hits last season. also realize this guy is mr. pinch hit.

 

so think about that before u say he shouldnt be on the roster

 

I know what I'm talking about. Look at Harris' numbers over the past few years. He sucks. He can't play any defense, either, so he'd be taking the spot of someone that can both pinch-hit and come in an play defense. Mr. Pinch hit was so valuable, that McKeon didn't use him once during the World Series. He's 39 years old, it's time for him to retire already.

[Fish Fry]

ohh and dont forget that he brings character to our club ... with the departure of Ozzie we need clowns like Lenny to keep everyone loose.

 

Talent creates more wins than clowning. Those Dodger teams of the early '90s with Lenny Harris, Mickey Hatcher, and Rick Dempsey were full of clowns that had great clubhouse chemistry. How many rings did they win? Zero.