Duncan named White Sox pitching consultant

CHICAGO -- Dave Duncan has reunited with the White Sox in the role of pitching consultant, as announced by the team on Thursday.
The 72-year-old Duncan served as the club's pitching coach from 1983-86, under former manager Tony La Russa, and most recently, Duncan was a pitching coach for the Cardinals from 1996-2011. He has coached since '79, with his 32 years as a pitching coach holding up as the longest tenure in baseball history.
Duncan will oversee pitchers at all levels of the organization. He will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating video, and providing feedback and expertise.
"I am looking forward to the opportunity to watch the many talented pitchers in the White Sox organization and offer my own thoughts and impressions based on my coaching experience and knowledge," Duncan said. "I have already been talking to [pitching coach] Don Cooper and [bullpen coach] Curt Hasler, and the coach in me is excited to look for ways to contribute toward making a pitcher even a little bit better."
"We would be foolish not to pick up a guy of his stature," Cooper said. "He's just going to make the Chicago White Sox better. It's a great signing. I was 100 percent for it. We've got a guy who in my mind has top notch, top shelf coaching experience."
Cooper has been talking with Duncan for over a month and will be setting up a communication system in-season to take advantage of Duncan's vast knowledge and what he's seeing. Cooper also would like the native of Tucson, Ariz., to make the trip to Glendale for Spring Training to get a first-hand view of the pitchers Duncan is studying on video.
"Certainly I'm psyched about the move," Cooper said. "Long story short, he and I are going to be talking a lot. He has been equipped with everything he needs right now to familiarize himself with our guys as well as my conversation with him.
"It's going to be something that evolves over time, but we are going to utilize him: It's as simple as that. He's now like me, an employee of the White Sox, and every employee of the White Sox is trying to help the White Sox win in some way, shape or form."
Over the past four seasons, Duncan served as a special assistant to the GM/pitching consultant within the D-backs organization. Duncan also was a pitching coach for the Indians (1980-81), Mariners ('82), and A's (1986-95) to go with his stints with the White Sox and Cardinals.
This position will have Duncan adding his input at the Minor League level and concerning pitchers being scouted for the upcoming MLB Draft.
"You look forward to any input or help you can get when you evaluate players," White Sox director of amateur scouting Nick Hostetler said. "It's an opportunity to get another opinion from somebody that is held in such high esteem in the game, someone who has been around for as long as he has and has been hands-on with as many successful pitchers and teams as he has."