By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Reds are a little sensitive these days.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

The day after the Associated Press came out with its annual report on salaries, which had the Reds at $43 million - fifth lowest in baseball - media relations director Rob Butcher and chief operating officer John Allen sent e-mails to reporters covering the club clarifying the taxpayers' contribution to Great American Ball Park.

Butcher's e-mail read:

"Now that The Associated Press has released each team's payroll, I'm sure the cost of our ballpark will figure into your stories. For the sake of accuracy, please know the taxpayers' contribution to the construction of GABP was $250 (million).

"The Reds, who already have contributed $32 million to the project, remain responsible for all costs over $250 million."

Allen followed with this:

"In addition, the Reds are paying $2.5 million per year for the next nine years in the form of rent to go along with the sales tax receipts to help retire the $250 million in bonds.

As Rob said, all costs over the $250 (million) are paid by the Reds which includes 100 percent of all cost overruns plus some features like the interior of the (Hall of Fame), all furniture, the Fan Plaza, all art work (mosaics, statues, etc.).

In addition, the Reds pay nearly 100 percent of all operating costs, which is a cost they did not have at Cinergy.

"As an aside, the estimated economic impact of the Cincinnati Reds to the region last year was approximately $253 million (according to) a 2003 University of Cincinnati study.

The Reds economic activity provided almost $1 million in sales tax receipt for Hamilton County last year. Of that $1 million, 53 percent came from non-Hamilton County residents."

Allen's letter followed stories in the Enquirer and other media outlets which noted that this year's payroll is virtually the same as it was the final year in Cinergy Field, after jumping to $59 million last year.

IF NOT FOR BAD LUCK: Brandon Larson's first reaction was anger.

"I wanted to charge the mound, throw the bat," Larson said.

Larson's anger was not directed toward Travis Smith, the Richmond pitcher who hit him on the right elbow. Larson was just mad about his recent run of bad luck.

Larson was at Richmond Thursday playing for Triple-A Louisville on rehab assignment when the very first pitch got him.

"It was up and in," he said. "I tried to get out of the way. But it hit me pretty flush."

Larson feared that he might have suffered a broken bone, but X-rays were negative. Larson returned to Cincinnati on Friday to get treatment.

"I'm all right," he said. "I promise. I wanted to stay in the game but it swelled up pretty bad. I couldn't throw."

The plan is for Larson to stay here, then rejoin Louisville to get some at-bats when he's able to play.

Larson is on the disabled list with a turf toe injury. He's played a grand total of 69 big-league games, but this is his fourth stint on the DL.

The first came after he was hit on foot by a Randy Johnson pitch on Aug. 15, 2002. Four days after he returned from that injury, he suffered a broken left hand when he was hit in the dugout by a foul ball.

Last year, his season ended Aug. 18 - 10 days into his third stint - when it was discovered he had a torn labrum in left shoulder.

LARKIN OUT: Barry Larkin was out of the lineup Friday night.

"We've got three straight day games (beginning today)," Reds manager Dave Miley said.

Juan Castro started at shortstop and batted eighth. Ryan Freel batted in the second spot, where Larkin usually hits.

UP NEXT: The Reds play the Pirates in the second of the three-game series today at 1:15 p.m.

Opening Day starter Cory Lidle (0-1, 9.00 ERA) faces right-hander Kip Wells (1-0, 0.00).