Louisville Courier Journal Story on Brendan Harris and Brandon Watson

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Harris, Watson are enjoying some comforts with Bats
Both dealt with Katrina aftermath
By: Brian Bennett

When Brendan Harris and Brandon Watson joined the Louisville Bats earlier this month, they were grateful for one thing: the ability to go out to eat after a game.

Harris and Watson were teammates on the New Orleans Zephyrs, the first professional team to play in that city after Hurricane Katrina. Although the town of Metairie, where the Zephyrs play, avoided most of the storm damage, the area was far from unaffected.

"Where we were was actually not too bad," Watson said. "But if you went out at all, you could see where the floods were."

With many of the city's residents still living in FEMA trailers, there was little housing available to the players. Many of them doubled up in small apartments, which is rare for Triple-A players.

And finding something to do after a night game? Forget it.

"It's the little amenities you take for granted, like getting something to eat after 8 o'clock," Harris said. "Everything's closed because the work force just isn't there."

But the players didn't complain, knowing that the entire region suffered far greater losses. The Zephyrs have averaged a little more than 5,200 fans per game, and the players were happy to provide some distractions.

"It's nice to give them something to do other than sit around and worry about what's going on," Watson said, "even if it's just for a night."

Both Watson, an outfielder, and Harris, an infielder, were well-regarded prospects in the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos system. But neither could find a niche with that organization for various reasons.

Harris, 25, began his career as a Chicago Cubs farmhand. He said he played second base and shortstop almost exclusively until he needed to fill in at third in the majors for injured Aramis Ramirez in 2004. Harris was a last-minute add-on in the four-team trade that summer that sent Orlando Cabrera to Boston and Nomar Garciaparra to Chicago.

"I got traded over, and (the Expos) were like, 'So you're a third baseman?' " Harris said. "I said, 'I guess,' even though I played my whole career in the middle. They moved me around a bunch of positions, and I never really got settled at one."

Harris received a September call-up with Montreal that year and said he tried too hard to impress his new team. He batted only .160 in 20 games and thinks he hurt his stock. After being traded to the Reds in another multi-player deal, he hopes to relax and just play his game.

Watson, 24, has averaged more than 20 stolen bases in his minor league career. He had been viewed as the possible answer at center field for the Nationals, and he won the Opening Day job there this season. But after hitting just .179 in his first nine games, he was sent to New Orleans.

"They gave me about two weeks before deciding to go another route," Watson said. "I hold no grudges. If anything, I thank them for the opportunity to play in the major leagues."

Watson hurt his shoulder diving for a ball and missed nearly six weeks. He was finishing up his rehab in Florida when he found out the Nationals had placed him on waivers. The Reds claimed him and sent him to Louisville.

"It was shocking just because of how close I was to getting back to play," he said. "But it happens all the time in baseball, and it's all about what you do after that happens."

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