tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post5876619019728356521..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Barry LarkinScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-10182010133992765272009-01-14T18:33:00.000-05:002009-01-14T18:33:00.000-05:00Larkin is no longer with The Nationals. His contr...Larkin is no longer with The Nationals. His contract was up and he declined the opportunity to become first base coach for 2009 or other more defined duties within the team. He said he wanted to be more with his family. Barry just recently took an analyst position for the new MLB Baseball Network. I will miss him. I thought he was a good addition to the franchise. Thanks.Screech's Best Friendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-75846972333775009292009-01-14T15:57:00.000-05:002009-01-14T15:57:00.000-05:00I was just wondering how many seasons will Barry L...I was just wondering how many seasons will Barry Larkin be helping out? I went to Nats Spring Training for the last few years. I exited the gift shop and I saw Barry Larkin standing right in front of me. I was very excited and he was kind enough to sign an autograph for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-43992321677277485072008-07-18T20:20:00.000-04:002008-07-18T20:20:00.000-04:00Thanks for this article, but being from Cincinnati...Thanks for this article, but being from Cincinnati myself it is so weird to see Barry in a National's jersey. It was terrible the way the Red's handled the end of Barry's career. Hopefully this weekend's induction is a step in the right direction by the new management to start mending that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-57195263053644599592008-06-30T10:49:00.000-04:002008-06-30T10:49:00.000-04:00I miss Barry Larkin. I'm a homegrown Reds fan, and...I miss Barry Larkin. I'm a homegrown Reds fan, and as I got older I came to the realization of what an amazing career Larkin made for himself, despite the hassles of playing for Cincinnati in the 90s. I'm glad to hear he's still involved in and enjoying the game, thanks for the interview.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-57937973862984654752008-03-14T11:11:00.000-04:002008-03-14T11:11:00.000-04:00Where can you listen to Phil Wood during the week?...Where can you listen to Phil Wood during the week?paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683734720896529408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-80954870361994829012008-03-13T14:38:00.000-04:002008-03-13T14:38:00.000-04:00I think that we are very fortunate that the Nation...I think that we are very fortunate that the Nationals acquired Kasten when the Lerners got the team, and that Kasten saw the value in sustaining Bow-Bow and his entourage, many classy and devoted ex-Reds like Larkin and those Barry ticked-off like Rijo and the Boones.<BR/><BR/>Then, the two put their sights on Manny Acta, and the three keyed on building the pyramid of success from the ground-up. There is real value in this kind of consistency and continuity and shared values. Listening to Phil Woods interview with Lee MacPhil this AM, it is now obvious that he is trying to do something similar in Crabtown; but, it is a lot easier to instill it when the foundation of a franchise is being layed than thereafter.<BR/><BR/>The Nationals may not be doing everything perfectly, of course, as Boswell suggests today - the red seats in the bleachers may be very overpriced, and I have been hammering about the iconic baseball in center "disappearing" without explanation, as two related examples - but it is evident that they are united in one common goal - get to the top by building from the ground-up, and staying there for years.<BR/><BR/>Some may say this is a pipedream, and that they are masking the real aim, which is to return a percentage profit on their investment every year by containing costs rigorously. Indeed, I would surmise that the 2008 payroll will not be double last year's,as some Nats officials had suggested in the off-season as a probability, but only 50% higher, or about $45-48 million. And they have not locked up the face of the franchise - Z-Man - to boot.<BR/><BR/>But, overriding the Green Eyeshade mindset of Cohen, et al, is the prevailing sense that you only waste time and money with big name signings and investing in The Churn, a la their football counterparts: a view that a perpetual winner has to built the "Atlanta Braves Way." thus, for the foreseeable future, until the Stars appear and mature, they may be able to have their cake (a good team on the rise) and eat it, too (relatively low payroll). I, for one, am drinking the Kasten Kool-Aid, and enjoying it! <BR/><BR/>And, those red-seats look attractive to me, albeit $27-39. - I shall definitely go to a couple of games out there, for the novelty and perspective and the experience...<BR/><BR/>If the team hovers around .500 this season, I see season attendance easily breaking 2.5 million, which is probably what the Nats brass is using as their financial mark. Make any kind of a competitive threat to be a Wild-Card, and 2.75 million not out of the question at all. Minimum season attendance if all goes poorly - 2.25 million. Not New York, Boston, LA, or Chicago, certainly: but good enough to keep the Plan intact, I would think...<BR/><BR/>Trust in Kasten. All Good.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-33318514056964672752008-03-13T13:20:00.000-04:002008-03-13T13:20:00.000-04:00SBF,Thanks for the Larkin piece. I really enjoyed...SBF,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the Larkin piece. I really enjoyed it.<BR/><BR/>Growing up in NoVA a Reds fan until the Nats came, Larkin and Bench were my all-time favorite Reds. He is a Pro and always appeared to be having fun out there just playing a kids game.Chuck B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11494060077471565941noreply@blogger.com