I, as well....I REALLY REALLY wanted Bob Brenly at the time...

Larussa is retired from coaching, he will not be a manager again and if he did manage he would not go to the Reds he can't stand them especially BP and Cueto, he won't forget what happened. As for Duncan is dedicated to the Cardinals, he may retire because of his wife's health if he comes back he won't leave St Louis.

I expect you're right about LaRussa. He could have been Manager-for-Life in St. Louis. The only reason for him to leave was to retire. I don't know that much about Duncan - age, ambition, and so forth.

Crosley

Duncan's wife was diagnosed with Brain Cancer and she had surgery last year, he has taken a leave of absence from the cardinals to be with her, she might have had a setback, not sure. My gut feeling is he will retire but the cardinals I heard will still be in contact with him throughout the season.

Yes LaRussa has retired from coaching and I think LaRussa is over the 1990 World Series by now. As far as Phillips and Cueto he may not like them but they won't effect his decision if he wants to come out of retirement. Unless he is a WLB.
As for Duncan just how strong is his dedication? Remember this story not to long ago?

According to Rotoworld.com:
Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan may leave the organization after the year.
Duncan is upset at the perceived handling of his son, Chris Duncan, by both the Cardinals media and front office. Tony LaRussa's right-hand man since 1983 has also lost influence with the front office, no longer being consulted on decisions and not seeing his philosophy mesh with the minor league philosophy. Duncan insists any decision will come in the off-season and be a professional, not personal decision. Color us skeptical. Duncan is possibly the best pitching coach in the game now that Leo Mazzone has retired. He won't have trouble finding a job. It would be a blow to the Cardinals' future as fantasy owners would no longer be able to pick up Cardinal pitchers and see them morph into world-beaters on a regular basis. Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Just how strong of a hold does the Cardinal organization have with Duncan now that his buddy is not coaching there?

I think a lot of things have to line up, but I could really see it happening, only because of the previous working relationship and an opportunity here for TLR to eventually be GM in a couple of years or three. It will depend on how much he misses it the next 12 months. Never say never.

That looks like an old story, Duncan has no issue with the Cardinals, he all ready to return this season but something happened with his wife's recovery and he has decided to stay with her. In fact Chris Duncan has a radio show in st louis and last year he was a commentator for the cardinals on the fox midwest post game show, so maybe there was tension between the Duncan's and the Cardinals a few years ago but they are all on good terms now. He is pretty dedicated to the Cardinals he has told them he doesn't want to interfere with the interim pitching coach so he won't call them but he has welcomed any of the cardinal pitchers or coaches to call him anytime.

Yes that was a old story and he may not have issues with the Cardinals now. Thanks to his buddy Tony LaRussa. Was Duncan coming back because of his contract and he wasn't ready to retire yet? Lets not get that confused with dedication to the Cardinals. I do believe that he is dedicated to the game of baseball though.

The story is old. I remember when it happened. I was struck by the part about Duncan being the best pitching coach now that Leo Mazzone (sp?) has retired. After LM left Atlanta I think he went to Baltimore and utterly failed to generate any good pitchers. It turned out that he was a great pitching coach because he had great pitchers, not the other way around. Duncan strikes me as being more like Don Gullett, but with a longer track record: Duncan can take a mediocre pitcher and show him how to be a lot better. Gullett did it a few times (all with lefty starters) but Duncan does it once or twice every season.

I'd move a lot of things around to get Duncan.

Crosley

I admire your loyalty to the Cards but it is a possibility that both could end up here.

Duncan is not going to leave his wife to be a pitching coach for the Reds. My loyalty has nothing to do with it, I think cardinal fans know a little bit more about the situation than reds fans. You don't know what Duncan is going through with his wife, he would want to be near her, I really think he is going to retire. This isn't the first time we have heard rumors about this and that is all they are. Larussa is not going to manage again he wants to stay in baseball but in a different capacity and I'm sorry but Larussa wouldn't come to the Reds, just like the Cubs he doesn't like them especially BP and I think its mutual. I believe you guys will be stuck with Dusty for awhile, I thought he signed an extension? Besides I thought all you Reds fans hated Larussa?

I am sure there was Oakland fans that thought the same as she does. These guys are professionals and do what they do for the love of the game. It doesn't matter where they go as long as they feel it fits their desires. LaRussa retired from the game because he wanted a break or no longer loved what he was doing. Duncan has family issues that means more than the game right now. They may stay retired knowing that they were successful men in the game or they may want to come back because they miss it. No one really knows right now not even themselves.

However, he is a good manager and if it means getting Duncan here, I'm all for it.

I understand Duncan wanting to be with his wife. I have no issue with that. Frankly, as long as he is dealing with her illness, he'll not be coaching at all.

I'm a reds fan and some have said they don't like LaRussa but I haven't been one of them. He is a good manager and I have nothing against Dusty but I think Walt wants LaRussa here and LaRussa will get the itch to manage again. I'm not saying he will but it is a possibility. He may not like some players here but managing is managing.

Well put Old. Good post.

"Duncan is not going to leave his wife to be a pitching coach for the Reds. My loyalty has nothing to do with it, I think cardinal fans know a little bit more about the situation than reds fans. You don't know what Duncan is going through with his wife, he would want to be near her"

What makes Cardinals fans better experts in this matter? We all feel for the Duncan family and what they are going through. You guys have a web cam in his house or something?

"I really think he is going to retire."

That is a opinion not a fact.

"This isn't the first time we have heard rumors about this and that is all they are. Larussa is not going to manage again he wants to stay in baseball but in a different capacity and I'm sorry but Larussa wouldn't come to the Reds"

How do you know this? You don't think he can fill that role he wants here? After all Walt Jocketty and LaRussa are still friends aren't they or did that end when Jocketty became a Red?

Besides I thought all you Reds fans hated Larussa?

Most of us do but not because of his coaching skills.