Goodbye Barry Larkin

[ronnynat]

Barry Larkin said on Monday that he is leaving the Nationals to take a job as an analyst with the MLB Network, which launches on Jan. 1, 2009.

Larkin, 44, spent the past four seasons as a special assistant to Nationals general manager Jim Bowden. He worked with Minor League players on hitting, baserunning and fielding, and sometimes helped Bowden make personnel decisions.

During the final weeks of the 2008 season, however, Larkin was in talks with Bowden about his future with the club. Bowden offered Larkin the first-base coaching job, but Larkin turned it down because of family commitments and business interests outside of baseball. The position eventually went to Marquis Grissom.

"Jim offered me a job, but I needed more flexibility," Larkin said by phone.

Larkin also said the Reds, the team he played with for 19 seasons, offered him a chance to return to the organization this offseason, but he choose to work for the MLB Network, which will air live games, original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball events.

Larkin is considered one of the best shortstops in Reds history, collecting 2,340 career hits with a lifetime batting average of .295. Larkin also won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1995 and three Gold Gloves during his career.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081222&content_id=3726078&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

[Air Zimmerman]

that's a bummer. i appreciate the generosity he showed towards Dukes last yr.

[blue911]

What exactly did Larkin do for the Nats?

[PANatsFan]

What exactly did Larkin do for the Nats?

Babysitter.

He was looking for a job with less travel.  Studio analyst fits the bill.

[shoeshineboy]

What exactly did Larkin do for the Nats?

On occasion, he was provide advice to players and tutor them on fielding mechanics. I believe this was a valid contribution. Other than that, I believe he mostly allowed Bowden to go around saying how he had a guy like Barry Larkin on his staff. For the most part, I found Larkin to be non-committal and mostly a non-factor and have to believe he was overpaid if he received much more than an occasional stipend. I wish him well. But can't see this as a loss.

[blue911]

On occasion, he was provide advice to players and tutor them on fielding mechanics. I believe this was a valid contribution. Other than that, I believe he mostly allowed Bowden to go around saying how he had a guy like Barry Larkin on his staff. For the most part, I found Larkin to be non-committal and mostly a non-factor and have to believe he was overpaid if he received much more than an occasional stipend. I wish him well. But can't see this as a loss.

That's what I thought. I think it would be in Larkin's interest to maintain ties to the Cincinnati team.

[PatsNats28]

Is MLB Network gonna be like NFL Network (retarded)?

[spidernat]

Is MLB Network gonna be like NFL Network (retarded)?

Probably.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

But, he was such a nice guy!

[PANatsFan]

Is MLB Network gonna be like NFL Network (retarded)?

At least everyone with cable gets the MLB network.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I turned on the Channel which the MLB Network will be on at my folks house. Everytime I did it was Red Sox World Series....that isn't a good sign.

[UMDNats]

I turned on the Channel which the MLB Network will be on at my folks house. Everytime I did it was Red Sox World Series....that isn't a good sign.

yea, everytime I turn it on, it's Red Sox highlights

[spidernat]

Are you guys serious? I need to try it at my house.

[UMDNats]

Are you guys serious? I need to try it at my house.

yea, its right after nfl network. i checked it out and they were doing a red sox story

[DCFan]

I turned on the Channel which the MLB Network will be on at my folks house. Everytime I did it was Red Sox World Series....that isn't a good sign.

They're just playing the Red Sox highlights on a continuous loop. At least they've changed it because when it first went live it was Chisox 24/7.