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by Memphis Bengal on Monday, January 31st, 2005 at 10:33am
Sammy Sosa isn’t the only icon to leave his association with his main team under less than optimal circumstances this offseason. The end of Barry Larkin’s tenure in Cincinnati has been as messy, just a lot quieter. From what one can gather, the sequence was something like this:
1. Reds approach the elderly Larkin about accepting a part-time back-up role this year.
2. Larkin balks.
3. Reds part ways with Larkin.
4. Larkin spends off-season lobbing shots at Reds management.
5. Larkin claims to have gotten other offers for gainful on-field baseball employment, but says he turned them down because he can’t play for anyone else.
6. Larkin says he wants Reds to hire him to be in their front office.
Weird. Mind you, if Larkin had just accepted the part-time gig when offered it at the end of last season, he would be heading to spring training in two weeks. You can’t blame the Reds for not wanting to go into another season with a SS who is breaking bit by bit. Lonnie Wheeler of the Cincinnati Post breaks down some of the soap opera here.