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| (Photo: Ken Carr) |
Harris ready to lead Lake County staff
New Lake County Captains Pitching Coach Jeff Harris brings with him a lot of experience. He played 14 years in the minor leagues and appeared in 430 games (85-53, 3.60 ERA) and even made it to the big leagues where he pitched in 14 games (2-5, 4.26 ERA).
In addition to all of that experience and knowledge that he has learned playing on the minor league circuit from 1995-2008, Harris has also learned how to relate to players from many countries because he has played all over the world.
“I played in a lot of difference places, some places people don’t even realize pro baseball exists,” said Harris. “Because of that I feel like I can relate to all types of players and it helps me build a relationship with them. I think I am pretty easy to get along with, and hopefully the guys trust that I have their best interest at heart and that I can help them.”
Harris was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 28th round of the 1995 Draft and spent six seasons playing for them before being released before the start of the 2001 season. In order to extend his playing career he pitched in leagues all over the world in Taiwan , China , Canada , Mexico and Venezuela
“At that point I was trying different avenues to extend my career and earn a living,” said Harris. “There are a lot of different markets out there. I was just trying to make some money and keep playing. I already had eight years in before I really started traveling and doing different things, but I just wanted to play.”
Harris and his Indians’ marriage started back in the 2006 winter ball season where they saw him pitch in Venezuela
It was during that 2008 season at Buffalo
"I finished the last two years in Buffalo with the Indians, and apparently they saw something they liked with my work habits or personality or whatever and they just started asking me if I would be interested in coaching when I was done playing,” recalled Harris.
Harris ended up retiring after the 2008 season, which was the same time that the Indians were completing their move from Winter Haven , FL to Goodyear , AZ Florida to the Arizona Summer League in Arizona
The move ended up being a perfect fit for him and the organization. Since Harris lived in Arizona
“At the time I lived out here in Arizona and [Farm Director] Ross [Atkins] told me that the job in Arizona was opening up and asked if I would be interested in interviewing for it,” said Harris. “I had to think about it for a little bit, and then I interviewed for it and they offered me the job. It was a smooth transition. It was funny as I finished the one year playing and came back the next spring as a coach."
It did not take long for Harris to make the transition from a player to a coach. He jumped right into things in 2009 and 2010 as the pitching coach for the Arizona Summer League team and learned a lot about the coaching aspect with teaching, observing, and handling all the different personalities that he comes across.
"I like it,” said Harris about coaching. “It is a big difference from playing and took some getting used to that first year as there is a lot of administrative work that you did not realize goes into it. As a player you don't understand what the coaches actually have to do. I like working in the organization and all the people I am around. They made it an easy transition for me by taking me under their wing and it has really helped out a lot."
Due to some promotions or coaches going elsewhere after last season the Indians had to reset the pitching coaches at all their affiliates for this coming season. As a result almost all of their coaches moved up a level. Harris was the natural choice to move up to Lake County
“The organization has their ideas and plans for where they want guys, and I had mentioned to Ross when I first got the job that I would like to be in Arizona California
It will certainly be a much more involved coaching process in Lake County than it was in Arizona Arizona he spent his time coaching in extended spring training games and then rookie level games from April to the end of August, all of which is really no different from Lake County
In Arizona the games are played in front of no one, where in Lake County Arizona all games are in the Phoenix area and you play teams one game at a time, but in Lake County there is a lot of travel with bus rides to Michigan , Indiana
“I look forward to getting to play in series’ again where you get to play the same team for three or four games instead of just one game and you move on to the next team,” said Harris. “I have been in the [Midwest League] before and it’s a good league. It will be fun to play a 142 game schedule again too.”
“In 17 years I got one ring and that was in independent ball,” said Harris. “It is a special thing for the guys who got one in Lake County
Notebook:
Kluber update: As mentioned last week, right-handed pitcher Cory Kluber was hit in the head with a line drive off the bat of Jason Kipnis last Monday. He is supposedly fine and passed all the tests for a possible concussion. He has restarted his throwing program and looks like he will be fine to open the season on time, though it is still remains a possibility he could miss the first week or so if he has any setbacks or the Indians choose to be very conservative with him.
No J-Rod return: Reports are coming out of Pittsburgh that the Pirates plan to open the season with infielder Josh Rodriguez on their 25-man roster. Rodriguez was a Rule 5 pick this past December out of the Indians system, and would have to be returned to the Indians if he is unable to stay on the Pirates 25-man big league roster at any point this season. Depending on who you talk to he has underwhelmed in Pittsburgh this spring, so it remains to be seen how long they will be able to keep him on their roster. The Indians would very much like to get him back, so it looks like if he struggles in the early going he could be returned to Cleveland by the end of May, maybe even the end of April.
Phelps at short: One thing people have wondered about is how Cord Phelps will get consistent playing time at Triple-A Columbus this year with Lonnie Chisenhall the everyday guy at third base and Jason Kipnis the everyday guy at second base. Phelps will play a few times a week at third and second, but apparently he may also see some time at shortstop and left field. The Indians played him at shortstop in a spring game on Monday, likely to try him out there. It is not a certainty he plays any shortstop or left field this year, but it looks like they are really considering it.
Columbus vs.
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3 comments:
Tony,
Seems like Cord Phelps is a little big to be playing SS, particularly as I don't think he's overly athletic. Might be able to play in a pinch, but I would hope it would not be more than that.
Pleasantly surprised by Abreu. I had written him off as a free swinging, poor bat-to-ball skills kind of guy who had shown little to no improvement in those areas. We'll see when the season starts, but a promising start at least. While he's been making better contact, he still will need to show some plate discipline.
Lavisky is another guy who has done unexpectedly well in ST. I was of the view that he was a high risk draft pick with good defensive skills and power, but who would not hit well enough to be more than a backup C. That still may be an accurate assessment, but the start of his professional career brings me hope that Lavisky might ultimately have a higher ceiling than I originally forecasted.
Good to see a solid performance from White. From what I've read, he hasn't had the best of springs. I know he is likely working on some things, but it's nice to see a game where he shows both control and swing-and-miss skills.
Phelps to get work in as a SS/3B/2B/OF.. all part of developing him to be a ML ready something!.. Gamer's like him can pretty much be put anywhere on the diamond and they perform.
Five games versus Chicago....five wins.. impressive, even if it is minor league/spring training tilts..
Josh-Rod..send him home..
Tony, I live near Ottawa, Ontario and vividly remember watching Jeff Harris in '07 when Buffalo came up to play the Lynx. He would spend the entire game draped over the railing, watching each pitch of each inning like a hawk. Invariably a young pitcher would be standing next to him, Jeremy Sowers mostly but also Aaron Laffey, picking his brain. Contrast with Cliff Lee, who sat on the bench after his demotion that year like unapproachable royalty. Jeff Harris was born to be a pitching coach!
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