Barry Larkin, the esteemed Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop and former Cincinnati Reds player, has made some critical comments about his old team. Now an analyst for Bally Sports Ohio, Larkin expressed his disappointment with the Reds’ performance this season during a game broadcast between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals.
“There should be high expectations in this city given the talent we have,” Larkin stated, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We have a superstar pitcher [Hunter Greene] and other talented players. There needs to be a refusal to accept mediocrity.”
Larkin further noted that even with dominant players, the team must strive for excellence. Reflecting on his own career, he recalled how Eric Davis pushed him to exceed mediocrity and achieve greatness.
Larkin’s remarks come as the Reds approach a .500 record for the first time since early May, currently standing at 60-61. Despite this, they remain 4.5 games behind in the Wild Card race and 8.5 games behind in the division, facing the prospect of missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, they have not won 90 games in a season in over a decade.
While the team’s struggles are somewhat understandable due to injuries and a young roster, including players like Greene, Elly De La Cruz, and Spencer Steer, Larkin and others are concerned about recent management and payroll decisions.
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