Sunday, March 31, 2002
Larkin's career at a crossroads
Season critical after veteran's rough 2001
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's too early to plan the retirement party. But Barry Larkin admits he's clearly at the critical juncture in his career. He turns 38 on April 28. He has missed more games than he has played over the last two seasons.
Another year or two of going on and off the disabled list might force him to give up the game.
“How long I continue to play depends on my health,” Larkin said. “I can't put a number on it. It depends on how I feel through this year and next year. If I have two good years, I'll continue to play.”
Larkin is about to begin his 16th season with the Reds and on Monday will make his 15th Opening Day start at shortstop (he was hurt in 1998). He probably goes into this Opening Day with more to prove than in any since his first, in 1987.
When Joe Nuxhall and others suggested last year that Larkin had “lost it,” Larkin was stung deeply. “I have a lot of motivation,” he said.
Larkin played 45 games last year, the fewest in one season in his career. Even when he did play, he was playing hurt.
But he thinks that's all behind him. He had surgery to repair a hernia in the offseason and spent the winter rehabilitating to make sure his groin muscle, which he tore last year, was sound. He is confident in his health.
“I hope I won't struggle physically,” he said. “That was the reason for doing all I did in the offseason.”
That Larkin is starting his 16th season with the Reds is the result of some great baseball compromises.
“I made compromises and the Reds made compromises,” Larkin said. “My whole deal has always been to be comfortable with where I am. I didn't want to uproot my family.”
Larkin compromised when he signed his contracts in the 1990s by taking less money than he would have gotten on the free agent market. “I don't want to trivialize what I made,” he said. “I made a great living doing something I love to do.”
The club's compromise came in July 2000. That's when chief executive officer Carl Lindner stepped in and gave Larkin a three-year, $27 million contract extension — more than the Reds' baseball people wanted to pay him.
That's what it takes to keep a player of Larkin's caliber in a small market for as long as Larkinhas been with the Reds. His tenure with the Reds is currently the longest in baseball with one team after the retirement of Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) and Tony Gwynn (San Diego Padres).
“That's special,” Reds first baseman Sean Casey said. “That shows how loyal Lark has been to the Reds and how much the Reds and the Cincinnati fans appreciate him.”
Larkin says he can't imagine playing for another club. But he won't rule out the possibility.
“We'll see what happens in two years (when his contract runs out),” he said. “It depends on how I've played. Does the club want me? If they don't, I may want to play elsewhere. I want to stay, but you never know.”
Larkin begins this season tied with Johnny Bench for third on the Reds' all-time hit list, with 2,048. Only Pete Rose (3,358) and Dave Concepcion (2,326) have more. The fact that after his first hit this season he'll be between Rose, Concepcion and Bench on the hit list says a lot about where Larkin ranks among Reds.
He is in the top five on the Reds' all-time lists in games (fifth, 1,854), total bases (fifth, 3,104), at-bats (fifth, 6,843), doubles (fourth, 373), stolen bases (second, 362), runs (second, 1,163) and extra-base hits (fifth, 624).
The numbers don't mean a lot to Larkin.
“I'm sure I'll reflect on them when I'm done,” he said. “Right now, I'm getting ready for this year. I concentrate on the task. Records and all that don't really make a difference. It's just playing. I love to play. I continue to play.”
Again, it's too early to plan the retirement party, but Larkin has thought about life after his playing career.
“I like the game; I'd like to be involved in the game,” he said. “Something within the game. What that is, I'm not sure. I've got a son coming up who's 9 now. When I get finished playing, I want to give him some attention — my entire family. I want to make sure I'm there for him, like my dad was for me.”
Larkin and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Brielle (10), DeShane (9) and Cymber (5).
“They'll keep me busy,” he said.
Larkin's place in baseball history is secure. Baseball historian Bill James calls him “one of the 10 most complete players in history” and ranks him as the sixth-best shortstop of all time.
What would Larkin put on his plaque if he made the Hall of Fame? Not surprisingly, the numbers aren't at the top of his list.
Said Larkin: “I'd like to be remembered as someone who was fairly successful in his ability to bring a team together, to break down barriers, keep the clubhouse together — someone who was part of winning teams. And I'd also like to be thought of as a good player.”
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Larkin's career at a crossroads
