Sunday, January 03, 1999
Fans warm to Larkin
Reds star still loved but still mad at front office
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Barry Larkin's differences with Reds management haven't eroded. Nor has his popularity among fans.
Larkin, who lashed out against the team's front office while renewing his pleas for a trade to a contending club last month, reaffirmed his stance Saturday.
This was after Cincinnati's 13-year shortstop signed autographs, chatted pleasantly and posed for pictures with fans for more than two hours during the team's third annual Redsfest at the Convention Center downtown.
Larkin said he received positive feedback from fans, who were jarred last month when he blasted management for failing to build a winner and departing from a stated philosophy by trading second baseman Bret Boone to Atlanta.
“Everybody was (saying), "We're going to get on (General Manager) Jim Bowden so we can win around here,'” said Larkin, who also professed his undying love for Cincinnati. “Good!”
Judging from the crowd that sought Larkin's signature, he might consider running for president if he pops off another time or two. About 200 people at one point patiently lined up for his signature.
One was Bob Lewis of West Chester, whose 6-year-old son, Benjamin, wore a full Reds uniform that bore Larkin's name and No. 11 on the back.
“I'd rather he wouldn't say that kind of thing ... but I sure hope he stays,” the elder Lewis said. “I wish they hadn't traded Bret Boone. We liked him too. I kind of agree with (Larkin) on that.”
“I've always liked Barry. It doesn't matter,” said Carol Fackler of Newport. “If they're going to trade him, I hope they get somebody better than he is.”
There's not much chance of that. Larkin hit .309 last year to hike his lifetime batting average to .300. But he'll also be 35 next April 28, dampening his value in the
trade market.
“We've never been offered a player or young talent (for Larkin) even close to what we were able to get for Bret Boone, Dave Burba, Jeff Shaw or Jeff Brantley,” Bowden said.
“We've been offered a middle reliever and a Double-A utility infielder. There hasn't been a lot of interest in him. But that's OK, because we'd like him to be our shortstop. We've said that all along.”
Larkin didn't officially expand his list of trade options — his service time gives him the right to veto a deal — though he knew that the five teams he cited two months ago as accept able destinations (Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Diego, Texas and the Chicago Cubs) had either filled their shortstop needs or had no interest in him.
“That's between Jim and Eric (Goldschmidt, Larkin's agent) to work out,” he said. “If I get a chance to go somewhere where there's an obvious focus to win, fine. Hopefully that will be here. If not, I'm not going to go somewhere just to leave Cincinnati. I love it here. It's just a matter of wanting to win.”
Larkin bristled at the notion that he wanted to be traded partly so he could renegotiate his contract for a higher figure. He's currently paid far below market value at $5.3 million annually.
“I'm not even going to respond to that. That's ridiculous,” he said.
Larkin vowed to sustain the effort that has made him a nine-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner.
“When we're playing, my focus is going to be on winning. Regardless of who's out there,” he said. “This never stemmed from the players on the team. This stems from up top and what was going to happen and things changed course.”
Larkin was still rankled by that change. It resulted in Boone's departure after Bowden had stated his desire to preserve the Reds' double-play combination long-term, as Detroit did with Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell.
“If you try to build a foundation, you build it on something solid, that you know about,” Larkin said. “... Don't keep breaking down that foundation. That's what has been happening around here.”
Though Larkin's at peace with the Reds, it's plainly an uneasy truce.
“There's a lot more things that you guys don't know about that I need to get off my chest,” he told reporters. “But that (last month's outburst) was the obvious.”
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