BALTIMORE -- Willie Harris is a realist. He knows he's not carrying his weight right now. Actually, he knows he's not hitting his weight, either.
The Nationals' super-utility man carried a paltry .151 batting average into tonight's game against the Orioles and an 0-for-20 streak that dates back to June 3, the last time he reached base safely. A prideful veteran who has established himself as a valuable big leaguer over the course of his career, Harris beats himself up just as much as Nats fans who groan every time he comes off the bench in a key spot and fails to produce.
As you'll read on CSNwashington.com, Harris believes he would produce more if he got more chances to play. He also knows his poor performance means he doesn't deserve to play any more.
10 comments:
<"“That’s his role on the ballclub,” Riggleman said. “He’s our left-handed pinch-hitter against the other club’s right-handers. We’re trying to draw that out of him. He’s got a good history of doing that for us. I know it seems like it’s not been happening. But if you look at the bigger picture and what he’s done for us the last couple years, I don’t want dismiss that.”>
Well, here's the bigger picture: Riggleman has a history of being a lousy manager. Maybe Rizzo shouldn't dismiss that fact.
What major league player wouldn't want to produce more? Of course he does, but what is he doing to make that happen?
Never in the history of human sports has one human being done so little to help his team. I suspect we could select a different fan out of the crowd each evening, put them in a Nats uniform and get roughly the same production. And at least that would have some PR value. Time to produce or play somewhere else Willie!
Do those same people groan when he makes the hundreds of spectacular plays in the outfield? Do they groan when he hits game winning home runs? Yes, Willie's struggling, but he's been incredibly valuable to the team over the years. If he got consistent playing time, he'd do well, like in the beginning of April when he hit his 4 homers.
"That’s why I’m standing here talking to you guys. They know, and hopefully they don’t give up on me. If they do, I do understand that as well."
Look guys, this situation isn't going to go on forever, but on the other hand, you guys need to have a bit more of patience... Baseball is not for the short term thinkers...
WV: adeduc -> a dead duck?
I feel for Willie, and I certainly don't blame him for wanting to play and produce. I do blame the manager who gives this reason for playing him:
“He’s our left-handed pinch-hitter against the other club’s right-handers."
That's the problem with Riggleman in a nutshell--being a baseball guy apparently means you take a simple rule of thumb and turn it into a sacred and absolute decree.
Fact is, he does have another left-handed option off the bench (Kennedy). And he has right-handed batters on the bench (Morse and Gonzalez) who are hitting both RHP and LHP better than Willie.
This is why I quit listening to sports talk radio thirty years ago. Little League comments on MLB players.
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Anonymous said...
Never in the history of human sports has one human being done so little to help his team.
June 25, 2010 6:46 PM
This question has nothing to do with Willie Harris; what's going on with the Nationals and Frank Howard? Are the Nats ever going to bring him back into the organization? Has it already happened and I've never heard? Hondo needs to be part of the Franchise in some capacity. Mark, can you help me out?
Anon: Nothing happening on the Nats-Howard front. They did talk a while back about some kind of relationship, but it never materialized.
The reason nothing materialized with Frank Howard was that he wouldn't work for free.
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