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From today’s “Sporting News Today”:
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Dave Duncan, who is working in his 14th campaign as pitching coach of the Cardinals, is considering leaving the team after the season for personal reasons. There’s nothing wrong with his work: The Cardinals are running away with the N.L. Central, in large part because of the way Duncan has handled the pitching staff. The problem is that Duncan is angry— at the media, which he believes helped run his struggling son, OF Chris Duncan, out of town, and at the organization that has created a minor league pitching philosophy without his input. “I’m not ready to make that decision (to leave) right now,” he told the newspaper. “When I do, it will be a personal decision, not a professional one.”
With Bob and Walt’s love of all things Cardinal…could he be in the Reds future? Anyone not in favor of going after him, if he’s interested in coming over? Thoughts?
Bob and Walt might be Card-lites, but Dusty will never, ever accept Duncan over Pole.
Wait — does this mean we could get rid of Dusty and add Duncan (and even let mark mallory manage)? If so, it would be a 180 degree turn in the right direction…
I read a similar story following a link from Lance’s blog.
He certainly seems to work his mojo on a lot of pitchers at the major league level. The author of my link seems to think that the minor league development program should have been tweaked. Duncan isn’t quoted as saying he disagrees with the new program, just that he wasn’t consulted on it.
As Mike Maddux is proving in Texas and Duncan has proved for, well, FOREVER, a good pitching coach is probably MORE valuable than a manager when it comes to wins and losses. The great ones should be paid accordingly.
I’d love to see BobC put in the position of choosing Duncan over Dusty. The would be delish.
Do not think it will actually happen, but there is absolutely no reason on earth they should not be trying it. As all the prior threads on Bailey make clear, the current system is not working.
What is Dusty’s connection w/ Pole? Or what would be his disdain for Duncan?
sign his son to play CF to clinch the deal and be done with two problems at once.
Preach, Chris Duncan is NOT a CF. But he does/did have a big bat from the left side though. Hell, I’d really love the OTHER Duncan even more for leftfield and fill in 1B, is brother CHRIS Duncan, a big power hitting righthanded bat for left field/right field, and 1B
Mike
Vamac,
In comparison to what we have fielded this year, I would stick Duncan in CF if that would get us his Dad as pitching coach and still consider it a big win. It was more of a jab than an actual suggestion.
Hey, guys…since Castellini is so tied to St. Louis and since he loves Reds’ history…
Bob Howsam and Dick Wagner both worked for the Cardinals, too, before coming to Cincinnati.
If Duncan’s available…I think Castellini will encourage a conversation.
And, I think he would sign Chris Duncan to do it.
Hell, I would sign Dave Duncan himself to play center if he agreed to be the pitching coach also.
Why not sign Chris Duncan for CF? The Reds signed Taveras and he is clearly not a CF.
Bring on DUNCAN. If you could get him I would even let his kid play.
Give Big Dick the plane ticket home.
If Dusty doesn’t want to work with Duncan then Big Dick can give him the window seat.
To get Dave Duncan working with the Reds’ pitching staff next year, I’d be in favor of signing Chris Duncan, Shelley Duncan, Mariano Duncan, Sandy Duncan, Tim Duncan, Isadora Duncan, Seymour Duncan, Duncan Sheik, and Duncan Hines.
They can play wherever they want.
KY Chip, good stuff. And my sentiments exactly. I would esp like to see Sandy Duncan trolling the hot corner.
“What is Dusty’s connection with Dick Pole?”
Wow, you guys make it awful hard to act like a pastor….
I think putting Duncan Hines in LF next to that can o’ corn in CF, and maybe Dunkin’ Donuts in RF would give us a delicious outfield.
Why the heck would he want to come HERE?!
If Dave Duncan is out there for the getting and the Reds don’t try to get him they aren’t trying. Dave Duncan could make this staff look like a bunch of Cy Young’s considering what he has done with much less upside.
Also worth note is that Chris Duncan has been released by the Red Sox after batting .190-something in AAA. I think, with the Reds payroll limits in ’10 and lack of power bats in the minors it might be worth it to give the kid a shot…and it might bring daddy on over to Cincy.
Get him now!
Pole might be ok, but Duncan is the best.
Comment 14 (KyChip) is great.
We should do everything we can to get Dave Duncan.
I have no problem with adding his son Chris to the roster: a LH power bat, why not ?
I presume Dusty would not quit over Duncan replacing Pole. And if he does, all the better.
Here’s an interesting twist, isn’t LaRussa’s contract up at the end of this year ? Couldn’t Bob C. possibly be thinking about both Duncan and LaRussa ?
How do we feel about that ? I have mixed feelings about LaRussa, he can be a nut case (like when he kept Albert out of an All Star game to show who’s boss) but he does get results.
I thought adding Rolen meant there would be no Larussa.
Yeah, Greg, what a turn that would be. I’m sure Rolen would be real pleased.
But it’s a valid point to think that Duncan may see what happens with LaRussa before a decision is made. They have been together a long time.
I don’t think I’d want LaRussa. Given our current situation, it’s easy to want him, but I think he says and does just as many “headscratchers” as Dusty, the only difference is he gets results. But then again, Dusty won before coming to Cincy also. I say No to LaRussa, but an emphatic YES to Dave Duncan.