Sam Mellinger write on how the current Kansas City road trip might decide George Brett‘s willingness to continue as the Royals hitting coach:

“When I retired, it wasn’t because I couldn’t play anymore,” Brett says. “I was still a good hitter. Not what I was, but I led the team in RBIs my last year. I retired because I got tired of the travel and being away from my family.”

One moment from back then particularly sticks in Brett’s memory. A road trip to Seattle, late in his career. He’d always told his wife how beautiful it was there, so she flew ahead to meet him. The Royals played the night before in another city – Brett can’t remember exactly where, which is sort of the point – and didn’t get to the hotel until 4 in the morning. He thought then this was no way to spend the rest of his life.

He thinks about that now, too.

If Brett’s coaching is working, I suspect he doesn’t need to be there all the time. He can do a lot of instruction in KC, and skip some of the trips. With all games broadcast, he’ll see what players are doing right and wrong during games. KC has an assistant coach, and he could make the long road trips. I don’t think it needs to be stay or go. There is a compromise position.