-GoBengals- Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 we let larkin go today, he is a free agent and won't be back next year..... cincinnati.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofa_King_Cool Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 You know even though I can't say I didn't see it coming, I am still a little shocked. Looks there will be some changes coming to the infield this year. Castro, Jimenez, and Freel all looked solid last year. So it might be a toss up who gets 2nd and who plays SS. ____________________________________________________________________ Larkin Article Link Oct 12, 2:24 PM EDT Larkin Won't Be Coming Back to Reds By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) -- Barry Larkin will not be offered another contract by the Cincinnati Reds, ending his 19-year career with his hometown team, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The shortstop said he was informed of the team's decision in a phone call earlier in the day. "Nothing really surprises me anymore," Larkin said from his home in Orlando, Fla. Larkin, 40, grew up in Cincinnati and spent his entire career with the Reds, developing into one of the most prominent players in their history. He helped the team win a World Series in 1990 and won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1995, the last time the Reds made the playoffs. Injuries had limited him in recent years, and he decided to make the 2004 season his last. But a good season - he hit .289 and made the All-Star team - prompted him to reconsider and ask for one more season. The Reds had no immediate comment. © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creechnasty Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 LIIIIIIIIINDEEEEER!!!! *shakes fist angrily* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofa_King_Cool Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Here is a sportsline.com article about it. In here Larkin is saying that he wasn't allowed to play the last month so they could develop Machado and Lopez. ____________________________________________________________________ Sportsline.com Article Link Larkin says his days with Reds are over Oct. 12, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports CINCINNATI -- Barry Larkin will not be offered another contract by the Cincinnati Reds, ending his 19-year career with his hometown team, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Advertisement The shortstop said he was informed of the team's decision in a phone call earlier in the day. "Nothing really surprises me anymore," Larkin said from his home in Orlando, Fla. Larkin, 40, grew up in Cincinnati and spent his entire career with the Reds, developing into one of the most prominent players in their history. He helped the team win a World Series in 1990 and won the NL's MVP award in 1995, the last time the Reds made the playoffs. Injuries had limited him in recent years, and he decided to make the 2004 season his last. But a good season -- he hit .289 and made the All-Star team -- prompted him to reconsider and ask for one more season. He had an inkling the club wasn't going to make an offer when the front office decided not to talk about contracts with its free agents until after the season. He made sure to tell teammates and fans goodbye on the final day of the season, just in case the Reds didn't want him back. Larkin was willing to discuss a role as a backup infielder with the Reds, working to develop its young shortstops. The club evidently wasn't interested. The Reds had no immediate comment, but scheduled a news conference for later Tuesday. "It wasn't pleasant," Larkin said of the Reds' decision. "But it is what it is. It's definitely disappointing. I have decisions to make." Larkin, who becomes a free agent, isn't sure whether he wants to play one more year for another team and finish his career in a different uniform. "I have to see what opportunities present themselves, if there's anything that makes sense," he said. The Reds have tried for several years to develop Larkin's successor, but no one has played well enough to earn the job. Larkin said the Reds told him that they want to develop young shortstops Anderson Machado and Felipe Lopez rather than bring him back. Machado replaced Larkin after the third inning of a season-ending 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh at Great American Ball Park, giving fans one final chance to applaud him. Larkin thanked fans over the public address system and lobbied for one more season in Cincinnati. He wasn't surprised that it didn't happen. The front office decided to bench him for the last month of the season so they could get a look at the young shortstops, a hint he wasn't in their plans. "I left Cincinnati in a pretty good situation, actually," Larkin said. "The last year I played there was a great year. It was a tough last month, because basically they didn't let me play the last month. I made the All-Star team, played well and played hard. I did what I could do." AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Larkin was willing to discuss a role as a backup infielder with the Reds, working to develop its young shortstops. The club evidently wasn't interested. Motherfuckers.... Why would we want a gold glove, all star, future hall of famer mentoring our young shortstops? This makes me sick and is the last straw for me. Until Linder dies or sells the teams i'm boycotting the reds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofa_King_Cool Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Motherfuckers.... Why would we want a gold glove, all star, future hall of famer mentoring our young shortstops? This makes me sick and is the last straw for me. Until Linder dies or sells the teams i'm boycotting the reds. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> After they had the fire sale last year and got rid of Boone, I haven't been to a game since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creechnasty Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 After they had the fire sale last year and got rid of Boone, I haven't been to a game since. Ahhhh Boone... He was by far my favorite red... I'll always miss him and his gettin' hit by baseballs all the time ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofa_King_Cool Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 I was pissed when they got rid of Todd Walker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 I was pissed when they got rid of Todd Walker. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We could write a book of "I was pisses when they ..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofa_King_Cool Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 We could write a book of "I was pisses when they ..." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No kidding I can think of a few players they should have never gotten rid of but did; Mike Cameron Paul Wilson Reggie Sanders Juan Encarnacion Bret Boone Aaron Boone Benito Santiago Todd Walker Dave Wells Not to mention that entire Drew Henson bullshit trade. Why the hell didn't the Reds sue him, when he refused to play for them and decided to go back to football? The guy signed a contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-GoBengals- Posted October 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 bastards... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskimo Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 that sucks, i reallly like barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals_12th_Man Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 Barry was a class act and a leader for the whole team. He was the voice of te reds in good and bad times. But sports is for the young and Barry is getting up there. Thanks for the great memories Barry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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