Gateway to the West

While many have credited the St. Louis Cardinals success this season to manager Tony La Russa, the real reason for their success sits five feet to the right of him on the pine. Not many figured the Cardinals would be players for the National League Central crown when camps broke last Spring. Aside from the model-of-consistency that is Albert Pujols, the Red Birds were full of question marks. The most prominent being: How are we going to find 5 guys to throw in the rotation?

With Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder sidelined with injury, the outlook looked bleak. So the Cards signed Kyle Lohse as an insurance policy for their dismal rotation. Braden Looper, Joel Piniero and Todd Wellemeyer don't exactly frighten hitters.

Enter Dave Duncan.



With his son roaming around in left field, Duncan has transformed his staff into the '05 ChiSox. They throw deep into games and allow minimal base runners. Kyle Lohse looks less and less like Eric Milton and more and more like Bob Gibson every time he toes the rubber.

Duncan is the only active pitching coach who didn't pitch during his big league career. He caught for the A's, Indians and Orioles and batted only .214. The 62 year old was responsible for the out-of-nowhere resurgence of Jeff Weaver during his teams '06 World Series run. That team however, was equipped with Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter.

With Carpenter scheduled to return in early August, Duncan may get some time off while the Cardinals make the push for the post season. La Russa may get most of the credit, but Duncan's work can be seen nightly in St. Louis. Without him, the Cardinals would be the cellar dwellers everyone expected them to be.