By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Barry Larkin photo gallery

There was plenty of sounding off at Tuesday's Reds game but few signs of the ball club's bitter parting of ways with its veteran captain.

There were only scattered banners showing support for Barry Larkin, few Larkin T-shirts worn by sympathetic fans, and no run on merchandise featuring the 11-time All-Star at Great American Ball Park vendor booths.

But fans in the stands were buzzing with opinions about the abrupt end to the 18-year-veteran's playing days as a Red.

"I hate what they are doing to him," said Roger Smith of Dayton. "The guy spends 18 years with the club and they just throw him away. They are letting him go like he was nobody. I think management should have made him a better offer."

Martin Mansu of Price Hill said Larkin should have accepted the club's offer of a drastically reduced salary, just $200,000 over the league's minimum, because Reds management had "stuck by Larkin all these years he has been hurt."

"When you turn your back on us in Cincinnati, we kind of shun you a little bit," he said of the absence of visible fan support for the shortstop. "For what he was being paid, Larkin should have been willing to stick around because the Reds stuck with him."

Janet Moon of Anderson Township doesn't believe the 39-year-old Larkin is worth $9 million a year at this point in his career but said: "I think they should pay him closer to what he was making. It sounds like (management) was trying to push him out."

There was no run on Larkin merchandise, said Tony Arrington, a ballpark salesman.

What the fans have to say

"I just learned today of (John Allen's) handling of the Barry Larkin contract, and it breaks my heart, as well as my back. I saw my first Reds game at Crosley in 1959. I will never attend, nor watch, another Reds game as long as he and (Carl) Lindner control the Reds.

"I'm done. And I never thought it would happen. Not even Marge could push me off the big 'C' logo. From Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson to Sean Casey and Austin Kearns ... I'm done."

- William Spencer, Lebanon, Tenn.

"Kudos to the Reds for making Barry a more-than-fair offer. Kudos to John Allen for handling this situation and not leaving it to be one of the first issues to be addressed by the new general manager. The Reds have paid Barry Larkin over $70 million during his career. They owe him nothing more than a 'day' in his honor and to retire his number.

"If he thinks he's going to get a better offer elsewhere, I think he's in for a rude awakening."

- Erick Metzger, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

"Barry Larkin is and always will be a Red. He took way less than fair market value in 1995 when he signed for around $5 million. In 2000, he was worth every bit of the $27 million the Reds signed him for. Not just because of baseball skills, but also his leadership and commitment to the Reds and the city of Cincinnati. It was a slap in the face when Allen offered him $500,000 plus $500,000 incentives. Larkin understood he would have to sign for a lot less, but just above the league minimum, come on. ...

"Let's get rid of Allen and buy out Lindner and make baseball in Cincy fun again. Bring back Larkin as a player/coach and eventually to the front office, even GM. I have been a Reds fan for over 25 years, but it will be hard to follow them from now on, because the Reds are a business, and baseball is meant to be fun. Good luck, Barry, in whatever you do. I'll miss you as a Red."

- Troy Spees, Lima, Ohio

"I can understand that Barry has been with the club for 18 years and is the heart and soul of this depleted team, but why on earth pay a guy, who is at best going to be a backup infielder, a large one-year contract? After paying him $9 million to bat .282 in 241 plate appearances with two HRs and 18 RBI, you would think that is the biggest waste of money.

"If Barry, as he says, wanted to finish his career in Cincinnati, then he should be willing to give a little. The Reds organization just paid an over-the-hill player $27 million in three years. Barry should take two steps back and think, 'Maybe I'll give back to the Reds and finish out my career as a Red,' not for John Allen, but for the fans that supported him through the years. It's sad he is being selfish and greedy. "

- Steve Kuertz, Washington, D.C.

"How can Larkin be insulted by this offer of $500,000? He just made $27 million over three seasons for playing in 39 percent of his team's games.

"When his last contract ended, Lindner gave him an outrageous contract to make up for Larkin's years of playing at below market value. Good riddance, Barry. What a terrible end to a great career."

- Gordon Bell, Landen

"Like the 'Captain' stated, Allen's power status has gotten way out of hand, and a man that has not a clue about putting together a baseball team is in that position now at the major league level. For the past few years, Allen has stated many times, 'I do not make baseball decisions.' Well, now he does, on the city's second icon only to Pete Rose? Allen does not have a baseball background and has no clue about the game, about players. ...

"It's obvious that he has never played, or has a clue of what goes on. I know it's probably not much to him, but he just lost 12 season tickets!"

- Alan Slater, New Richmond