Schilling is Not Deion’s Biggest Fan

Philadelphia pitcher Curt Schilling had a few words for Deion Sanders after the Cincinnati Reds’ leadoff hitter stole second and third base Saturday with his team comfortably ahead during a 10-2 victory.

Sanders stole his 17th and 18th bases of the season with the Reds leading, 6-0, in the fourth inning. He acted as if he might try to steal home, and the two exchanged words as they crossed paths on the infield when the inning ended.

“I had something to say to him and it’s over,” Schilling said. “I felt what I said was legitimate. I’m not going to dispute the fact that he’s a great player.”

Sanders said he was going to stop at second after he stole the base, but decided to take third after Schilling made a pickoff throw. He told Schilling that as they crossed on the field.

“You try to pick me off second, I’m going to third to let you know I can get there if I want to,” Sanders said. “You don’t try to pick me off, I don’t try to take third. It’s that simple.”

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Barry Larkin raised his hands to the side of his head and waved them around wildly.

“It’s killing me, man. Mentally, it’s killing me,” Larkin said.

The Red shortstop was talking about his left heel, which had reduced one of the best players in the major leagues to a weak hitter and limited fielder.

Larkin developed inflammation at the base of his Achilles’ tendon in spring training, forcing him to sit out two weeks. It flared up in April.

Larkin, the only shortstop to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season, is batting only .227 with one homer and five steals. Larkin became animated when talking about how much the injury weighs on him.

“I can’t do what I’m capable of doing--that kills me,” he said. “But what do I do, wait until I’m 100%? I can’t do that.

“It’s bothering me. It’s in my head. I hate it. I’m frustrated.”