Thursday, January 12, 2017

What special assistants do

The Twins announced Wednesday that LaTroy Hawkins and Torii Hunter would be splitting time in the TV booth as analysts along side play-by-play man Dick Bremer. It's a five-man rotation: Bert Blyleven, Roy Smalley, Jack Morris and now Hunter and Hawkins.

Anything that reduces the exposure we fans get of Blyleven's "analysis"is probably a plus at this stage, but this seems to undermine the idea that Hawkins and Hunter, who were hired earlier in the offseason as special assistants (as was Michael Cuddyer) are to be given serious assignments in player development and scouting.

We'll see how all this plays out, of course. Maybe the broadcasting assignments will be sparse and focused. What I do know if that if Hawkins is doing TV work on a major league road trip through Cleveland and Toronto, he's not going to be in Chattanooga working with prospects or at a college game evaluating a potential draft pick.

It's also possible that some exposure to the broadcast operations is seen as an important part of grooming these two for more significant front office responsibilities.

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