By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Barry Larkin photo gallery

If Barry Larkin pursues a front-office position in Major League Baseball, his knowledge of the game acquired through 18 big-league seasons could prove valuable, former major-leaguers currently in such jobs say.

But moving from the field into the front office will require a learning curve of at least a couple years if Larkin is to be anything more than an organizational figurehead.

"It's usually about a three-year process with players," said Reds director of player development Tim Naehring, a former Boston Red Sox infielder who was groomed for the front office by former Reds general manager Jim Bowden. "You have to be out of the game for a while. The first couple years, (Bowden) was open to me being more of a consultant."

Naehring knew the game, but Bowden wanted him to see how it was managed and allowed Naehring to sit in on player personnel discussions for a couple years before putting him in charge of the Reds' farm system.

"If you've got passion for the game of baseball, you'll find a way to be motivated," Naehring said. "Not to say you don't miss playing. That's the pinnacle. I miss playing every single day."

Several teams employ former players who, like Larkin, don't need the financial security of a front-office job but want to stay involved with baseball. Home run king Hank Aaron is a senior vice president and assistant to the president for the Atlanta Braves. Dave Winfield is an adviser for the San Diego Padres. George Brett is the vice president of baseball operations for the Kansas City Royals.

But former players such as Naehring and Pittsburgh's Nelson Briles need their jobs not only to stay in touch with baseball, but also to make a living.

Briles, a pitcher in the 1960s and '70s, is vice president of corporate projects for the Pirates, a position he prepared himself for by finishing college during his playing days and delving into business ventures once his career ended.

Said Briles: "You want to say that when you leave the game, you're leaving it better than when you came up, and maybe this is my small way of doing that."

Briles said his playing experience is a nice asset, but he wouldn't have his job without his business savvy.

"It's funny, because all of a sudden when you become an officer in a company, people ask, 'How come he became vice president and not somebody else?' " Briles said. "Well, you have to have certain qualifications and submit your resume just like everybody else."