''It's frustrating,'' the Reds' All-Star shortstop said, sighing. His expression and body language, slumped down in a chair, said more than anything he could.
The frustration of age is beginning to set in with Larkin, 33, who will have surgery Friday in Cincinnati to repair degenerative nerve damage in his neck that has limited the 1995 National League MVP to only two games this spring. His season ended last year with surgery to repair fraying in his Achilles' heel.
This latest injury - which will put him out at least four to six weeks - is more serious than the Reds first let on.
After experiencing muscle spasms in his left shoulder and neck area, Larkin had an MRI March 3 on the shoulder that showed no neurological damage. But a subsequent MRI on his neck and further examinations by some of the nation's leading neurosurgeons discovered the problem is more than just a little muscle soreness and inflammation.
A C-5 vertebra disc in his neck is protruding, putting pressure on a nerve that causes spasms in his neck, left shoulder and left arm. It reduces his range of motion and he can only bring his left arm up to about shoulder height.
The aim of the surgery, which will be performed at Good Samaritan Hospital, is to relieve the pressure on the nerve and restore normal motor function. Larkin hopes to be playing by the end of April and trainer Greg Lynn said he doesn't believe the injury is career-threatening. Larkin opted for the surgery Wednesday after consulting with Reds team doctor Tim Kremchek and other neurologists. The choice was simple: He could rest and take the chance it wouldn't heal, or have surgery and hope it does.
Larkin's troubles
Barry Larkin played 158 games in 1990, when the Reds last won the World Series. But Larkin has played more than 140 games only once since (including the '94 strike season and shortened '95 season). Here's a look at his games missed, which add up to 19 games short of two full seasons:
Year Missed
1991 39
1992 22
1993 62
1994 52
1995 31
1996 10
1997 89
Total 305
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''I based the decision on what I can do on the field,'' Larkin said.
''I've been out there trying to catch ground balls and I just don't have the strength to react at shortstop. I've been drilled a couple times by hard hit balls . . . Swinging the bat, I have no problem. But defensively, I can't make the short movements, like the line drive that's coming at my face and I can't get my glove up. That was the determining factor for me. I don't have the fluidity or reaction I need.
''I've just been trying to do what I can (this spring) and give all the methods of rehab a chance. The surgery was the best option. This was a tough decision to make because I won't be there for Opening Day and because of all the garbage I went through last year (with season-ending surgery on his left Achilles').''
Larkin began developing the neck pain Feb. 28. He said at the time it may have been caused by swinging a heavier bat, but Wednesday he ruled that out. Instead, doctors believe it's caused by the wearing down of the nerve over time.
''I've played baseball for 12 years, and I played football (in high school),'' Larkin said. ''All that comes into play - playing the way I do, all the diving, jumping, twisting and turning I do. AstroTurf probably plays into it. I don't have the most orthodox style.''
Larkin had spasms in the neck area last June and was diagnosed with a bulging disc in the spine. He had an MRI and an epidermal steroid injection to treat it and felt no more pain until camp this spring.
When the MRI of his neck taken this month was compared to last year's, it revealed significant deterioration. Larkin was flown to Cincinnati to be evaluated by Dr. Tom Saul, who will perform the surgery, and Dr. Stefan Priebal, who works with Olympic athletes. Doctors tried several courses of rehabilitation, including some newer methods of magnetically stimulating the tissue and nerves around the disc, but all failed.
Larkin played in his first game this spring Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a home run as a designated hitter. He also played Monday as the DH, but the pain persisted and he and the Reds didn't want to waste time deciding on the surgery.
Larkin missed all but 73 games last year with leg and heel problems that began in spring training. He was on the disabled list from June 17-Aug. 1 with a strained left calf and had the season-ending surgery Sept. 1 to repair fraying in his left Achilles' tendon.
Those problems are behind him, but this latest injury shows age may be catching up with him.
The announcement of surgery was a tough blow to a Reds camp that until Wednesday had been both upbeat and uneventful.
Now, they face the fact of starting the season with their best player on the disabled list.
Pokey Reese is a capable replacement defensively, but the Reds will miss Larkin's bat. They were 46-43 in games he missed last year.
''Obviously you can never replace a Barry Larkin,'' General Manager Jim Bowden said. ''But one of the things this young team learned last year was that they can stay competitive without Barry.''
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