During the third inning of Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Larkin told Reds manager Dave Miley he wanted to come out.

Larkin hugs his father as he prepares to leave the stands with his family, including wife Lisa (right). (Enquirer photo/MICHAEL E. KEATING)

Larkin warmed up before the fourth. But as the inning was about to start, Anderson Machado replaced him.

What followed was a hug/love fest. The other position players surrounded Larkin and each gave him a bear hug. The scene repeated itself as Larkin entered the dugout.

"I didn't expect that," Larkin said. "It wasn't planned. What was planned was for Machado to come out and me to walk off the field. But guys came out and showed a lot of respect, a lot of love, a lot of affection."

Later, Larkin went to the radio booth to thank Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall. Then he went up into the gap in the upper deck and thanked the fans over the stadium public address system and video screen.

"I got a little choked up," first baseman Sean Casey said. "Lark has meant so much to me and helped me so much. I look at him as a brother."

The whole thing looked and felt like goodbye.

Larkin hopes it isn't.

Larkin, 40, who just completed his 19th season with the Reds, has made it abundantly clear he would like to return for a 20th season.

"I can only let my baseball ability speak for me," he said. "I've talked like I'm running for political office. It's like I have to politick to get a job back here or be asked back here. I don't know why that is. But it is what it is. It's a shame."

The Reds have maintained they won't deal with their free agents, including Larkin, until the season ends. But everything points to this being Larkin's final year with the club as a player. The team used September to groom Felipe Lopez and Anderson Machado at shortstop.

If the club wanted Larkin for a utility role, they likely would have had him take groundballs at second and third base.

Then there is a rift between Larkin management. Whether the rift's real or perceived, Larkin has taken shots at the club since he was benched Sept. 3. He said Sunday that when he came up to the press box, chief operating officer John Allen shunned him and would not let cameras follow him to the gap for his thank you to the fans.

Allen wasn't available for comment Sunday.

With Larkin and the Reds, it's not over until Carl Lindner decides it's over. Last year, and in 2000, Lindner intervened and signed Larkin when Reds management was ready to let him walk.

Larkin got a strong reaction when he left the game Sunday and when he thanked the fans. Lindner was at the game. Those kinds of things have swayed him in the past.

"The synergy is for me to stay here and continue to do what I'm doing here," Larkin said. "I think I can help on the field. I think I can help off the field."

Larkin had a very good first half. He was hitting over .300 and had only four errors. He made the All-Star team for the 12th time. Shortly thereafter, Larkin asked the Reds to cancel his retirement day, saying he was keeping open his options.

But two injuries - a strained abdominal muscle suffered June 7 and an oblique strain suffered July 24 - significantly affected his range.

About that time, Lopez began playing a majority of the time. General manager Dan O'Brien and field manager Dave Miley met with Larkin Sept. 3 and told him they'd decided to play Machado and Lopez.

The Reds begin a week of organizational meetings today in Sarasota. No decision on Larkin is likely before the meetings conclude.

Larkin was headed home toOrlando.

"I'm leaving as soon as I get out of (the clubhouse)," he said. "I don't expect anything. I'm going home. It's the offseason. Whatever happens will happen."

Return to Reds front page...