Dave Duncan taking leave of absence

[love_that_reefer]

Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is taking a leave of absence due to family matters, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Duncan's wife has been battling cancer and had surgery to remove a brain tumor in August. Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the team will issue an announcement tomorrow (Twitter links).

“As far as how long he’ll be gone, no one knows,” said GM John Mozeliak to Rosenthal.

Duncan, 66, has been the team's pitching coach since 1995, and he is widely considered to be one of the very best in the game. He was in the second year of a two-year deal signed last offseason. Bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist has filled in for Duncan in the past, though it's unclear if he will do so again.

It was reported earlier that he would be stepping down. I think that will eventually be the case. Why not end your career with a WS victory? Family comes first and my best wishes go towards the Duncan family. Poor Mike Matheny, he thought he was going to have Pujols and Duncan and won't have either.

[love_that_reefer]

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Friday that Dave Duncan will not return as pitching coach in 2012.
Duncan stepped down Thursday so that he could attend to his wife Jeanine as she continues her treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to remove a brain tumor last August. While he could return in an advisory role, Derek Lilliquist will serve as the club's pitching coach in 2012.

Sad to see him go but he's doing the right thing here. Duncan will go down as one of the best, if not the best pitching coach in baseball history. On top of that, he's retiring after a WS victory. Can't ask for anything better from the game. Best of wishes to the Duncan family.

As for Lilliquist, let's hope he speaks clearly through the bullpen phone