Hawk cutting '16 broadcast schedule

CHICAGO -- Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson, the colorful television voice of the White Sox for 31 years, will be reducing his 2016 work schedule to 81 games, according to a Major League source.

Harrelson, who turned 74 on Sept. 4, will broadcast 78 road games and three home games that include Opening Day and the two against the Cubs. Harrelson had talked about cutting back his schedule in 2015, but he changed his mind and signed on for a full season after general manager Rick Hahn's highly productive offseason seemed to put the White Sox into contention.

Via text message, a White Sox spokesman said the team would not be announcing anything on Harrelson on Monday, choosing to neither confirm nor deny any reports.

Harrelson resides in Granger, Ind., during the season, choosing to make the 100 mile journey for home games so he can be closer to his family and his grandchildren. Harrelson and analyst Steve Stone, who have broadcasted together for seven years, both had their contracts expire after this season. The same is true for Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson on the radio side, though they will be back for the 2016 season on the new flagship station of WLS 890 AM.