Harris finally puts the 'off' in offseason

11/02/2005
This offseason already is unlike any other for Mariners right-hander Jeff Harris.
Baseball is a full-time job, allowing him to concentrate almost entirely on his career, instead of supplementing a Minor League salary by working in a warehouse, cleaning sewers or building swimming pools for expensive homes.
"Except for 1998, when I went to Mexico to play winter ball and saved some money, this is the first time I haven't had to get a job during the offseason," Harris said. "It feels kind of weird. I almost feel guilty about it."
You might call it a guilty pleasure.
Harris is experiencing the benefits of spending the first two months of his 11-year professional baseball career in the Major Leagues. He was able to save enough money from the pro-rated MLB minimum ($316,000) to spend the offseason with his wife, Kimberly, in her hometown of Chico, Calif., preparing for next season.
"You don't make much money in the Minor Leagues," he said. "I worked my uncle's auto body warehouse in Oakland for three or four years and then started doing some plumbing and landscaping."
At this time a year ago, he was building custom swimming pools in Chico, a college town north of Sacramento, dreaming about playing in the Major Leagues while working his tail off to make ends meet.
And now this.
"I finally have a chance to focus on baseball and take the time I need to prepare myself for Spring Training," he said.
That, and preparing something even better.
Of all the good things that happened to Harris this past season, one particular day stands out as the most memorable of all.
"It was August 25th," he said. "One of the best days of my life and i'll never forget it."
Harris started the series finale against the Rangers in an afternoon game at hot and steamy Ameriquest Field in Arlington, allowed four hits and one unearned run over seven innings and was rewarded with his first Major League victory.
"This is it, this is the best moment," Harris said after the game. "The plane ride the first day I was called up [Aug. 1] was pretty cool, but this is tops."
But the day would get even better.
The team returned to Seattle after the game and Kimberly was at the airport to meet her husband. They went out to dinner that evening and she had some good news.
"She told me she was pregnant," Harris said. "The baby's due in May."
The dream season continued in Harris' next start as he beat the Yankees at Safeco Field for his second MLB victory.
"It's really fun to get out there and compete against one of the best teams, and one of the best organizations, in the history of the game," he said after the victory.
Looking back, Harris said, "both of my wins were special, but it's a great feeling anytime you beat the Yankees. That's the game my friends want to talk about."
Harris ended his first month in the big leagues with a 2-1 record and 2.28 ERA. And though he struggled in September (0-4, 7.40 ERA), he's looking ahead to Spring Training with high hopes.
"I think I put too many expectations on myself and got out of my game a little bit," he said of his September appearances. "My body felt fine, but I have to learn when to back off a little. [Manager Mike Hargrove} said some good things to me the last day of the season and told me to come to Spring Training ready to compete for a job."
Harris said he took a couple of weeks off after the season, played some golf, and then started working out two to three hours a day, three or four times a week.
"I can't wait to pick up a ball in November," he said.
That being said, he's not quite ready to store away all the memories of this past season, which started when he reported to camp in Peoria, Ariz., a virtual unknown career Minor Leaguer. The Mariners assigned him to their Double-A San Antonio club and he spent the first two months of the season with the Missions before being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma.
Three days after improving his record to 5-2 with six scoreless innings against Iowa in Tacoma, Harris was informed that he would be accompanying the Mariners to Detroit -- along with Felix Hernandez and Jorge Campillo -- to replace starters Aaron Sele (released), Ryan Franklin (suspended) and reliever Jeff Nelson (bereavement).
"We pretty much knew Felix and Jorge were going to get called up," Harris said, "but for them to take three pitchers, including me, at the same time? That came out of nowhere."
Campillo started the series opener against the Tigers, departed in the second inning with an injured right elbow and Harris made his MLB debut -- holding Detroit to one run over five innings in a game the Mariners (but not Harris) would win.
As he reflects on the best two months of his career, Harris still has to pinch himself.
"I'm still trying to take it all in," he said. "It's hard for me to imagine that this could happen to me. I enjoyed the season so much and as my buddy, Waylon, told me, 'You'll be in the Baseball Encyclopedia forever.'
"It's hard for me to realize where I was two years ago, and where I am now."
Harris' travels have taken him to so many places he could be nicknamed "Atlas."
After six years in the Twins organization, he pitched in Chico, China, Taiwan, Quebec City and Mexico.
Now he can add some Major League cities to his resume, and hopefully several more down the road.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/