http://tinyurl.com/yfqclk9 By Joe Strauss ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 10/14/2009 Confident that organizational lines of communication will improve, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said Tuesday he is prepared to return to the club for a 15th season should Tony La Russa do the same as manager. Duncan, who returned to his southwest Missouri home Monday, told the Post-Dispatch that concerns leading him to publicly speculate in August about his future with the organization have eased, partly due to recent reassurances offered by general manager John Mozeliak. "My inclination is not to go somewhere else," Duncan said. "Any issues I have I feel like can be addressed by talking with 'Mo.'" Duncan was bruised by the July 22 trade that sent his outfielder son Chris to the Boston Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo and cash considerations. At the time, Duncan also noted there was a firewall separating the major-league staff from the pitching philosophy espoused within player development. Mozeliak has since assured Duncan he would address the internal split. —"'Mo' and I have talked about it," Duncan said. "He's tried to assure me I'll have the opportunity to express my feelings and why I feel as I do. It's not personal. It's what's in the best interest of the organization. Really, it's never been a personal issue. I just think there ought to be better communication between what's going on within the minor-league side and what we're doing. If (player development) can convince me it's a productive approach, fine. I'd like to have that conversation." Duncan's distant relationship with vice-president of scouting and player development Jeff Luhnow is well known within the organization. Duncan's philosophy, particularly regarding mechanics, conflicts with that of roving minor-league pitching instructor Brent Strom, a Luhnow hire who has no contact with Duncan. Regarding overall communication, Duncan said he and Mozeliak would "continue to find a way to create a situation I feel more comfortable with." The Cardinals are expected to announce realignment of their minor-league staff later this month; however, Duncan did not note coming changes as factoring in his decision. "There was supposed to be communication, and there hasn't been sufficient communication for me to really understand what they're trying to do from a development standpoint in regards to pitching," Duncan said. Duncan, 64, signed a two-year extension after the 2008 season that included a mutual option for 2010. Duncan is believed to be the major league's highest-paid coach at more than $750,000, a figure that exceeds some managers' salaries. La Russa has long referred to Duncan as "the perfect pitching coach" and has remained his unfailing advocate. "Every year I think he's been better than ever," La Russa said Tuesday. "That holds for this season. I can't brag on him enough." The handling of his son's sudden trade has become less of a sore point. Mozeliak referred to it earlier this week as "water under the bridge." Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. recently referred to a mended relationship. La Russa reiterated Tuesday he is uncertain about his future, saying he will return to his East Bay-area home in California before deciding whether to manage a 31st season. Despite their 24-year relationship as manager and pitching coach, La Russa has insisted he and Duncan aren't necessarily wed professionally. But Duncan noted Tuesday that if La Russa does not return, "It would create a different situation." DeWitt and Mozeliak emphasized a desire for La Russa, 65, to return during a dinner meeting Monday. But the grind of La Russa's eighth push to the postseason in St. Louis and a Division Series sweep suffered against the Los Angeles Dodgers have put the game's third-winningest manager in an introspective mood. La Russa underscored Tuesday that he is not pondering other managerial jobs but needs to decide if another role within the game would be a better fit. "There's a lot that goes into it," he said. "Right now, it's something I want to give some thought." Duncan said he has no insight into La Russa's decision but would wait for the manager's decision before cementing his own. "You take it one step at a time," Duncan said. "I don't know what Tony's situation is. Until I know that, I guess I'm not in a position to make any final decision. If something is decided between Tony and the Cardinals, then I'll deal with my situation." The Cardinals finished fourth in NL team ERA (3.66) this season, while Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright emerged as leading candidates to win the league's Cy Young Award. Joel Piñeiro evolved into a 15-game winner, and closer of convenience Ryan Franklin led the league in saves before struggling in September. Duncan's attachment to his pitching staff is strong. He likewise enjoys the benefit of long relationships with bullpen coach Marty Mason and video coordinator Chad Blair, among others. "It's always hard to change environments. There's a lot involved in that for me," Duncan said. "You build relationships, and through those relationships you get assistance that is special and very helpful, whether it be the pitchers' participation or what you do in the video room. To try to start that all over again would not be an easy thing to do. From that standpoint, it would be hard to make a change." --

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