By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Barry Larkin will play in his 17th Opening Day with the Reds today. That ties him with Pete Rose and Bid McPhee for the club record.

OPENING DAY 2004 • Fresh hope, old questions • Reds offer discounts to try to get more fans into seats • A symbiotic relationship • Larkin will put on reflectors after game • Reds-Cubs series preview Click to view a detailed, printable map of the parade route, parking and street closings. (Acrobat PDF, 84k)

But you won't catch the 39-year-old reminiscing about the past just yet.

"It's another start to the season," Larkin said before Sunday's workout at Great American Ball Park. "Other than that, it's just a regular day."

Today marks the beginning of what likely will be Larkin's 19th and final season.

The Cincinnati native has a .325 batting average with three homers and seven RBI on opening day.

"I've thought about it," Larkin said. "It's hard enough to go out there and get ready to play. So my concentration is where it needs to be.

"I'm trying to play and do whatever it is I need to do. I don't have time to really reflect and all that stuff. I'll reflect after I'm done playing."

STAY TUNED: Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who strained his right calf March 29, took batting practice and participated in drills Sunday.

Manager Dave Miley said a decision on Griffey's status for today's game would be made this morning.

If Griffey does play, Ryan Freel is expected to start at third base. If he doesn't, Freel likely would move to center field and Juan Castro would play third base.

SPRING WRAPUP: The Reds finished spring training with an 18-16-1 record, their first winning spring since 1997.

"Everybody talks about spring training and how long it can be," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "But it worked out well for us. We had a lot of things we needed to work on. I'm very happy with how the players went through it."

PLAYOFF HOPES: Cubs second baseman Todd Walker watched part of the Reds' workout Sunday.

"Some of the best friends I have are on this (Reds) team," said Walker, who was traded from Cincinnati to Boston in December 2002. "I played here two years ago and it was a special time for me. I love the city. I love this team. I got traded away. I didn't want to leave."

The trade has proven beneficial.

Walker played in 144 games with the Red Sox last season and signed with Cubs during the offseason.

"I had opportunities to go a couple other places and start, play every day, but I just wanted to win," Walker said.

"I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of what I basically was a part of last year - to get in the playoffs and ultimately have a chance to win the World Series."