Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan was a guest on our Team 1380 radio show Tuesday.

Here are the five most interesting things he said, and maybe I’ll throw in a couple of bonus points:

1. HE IS OPTMISTIC ABOUT CHRIS CARPENTER: This is a big one for me, because Duncan has credibility. He says what’s on his mind. He isn’t worried about being politically correct. He doesn’t engage in false spin. He’s not going to tell you that the glass is half full when it’s running low. A couple of months ago, for example, Duncan said that he couldn’t afford to count on Carpenter for 2009, because Carp’s viability was still up in the air because of a nerve problem in his pitching arm. Duncan wasn’t buying the team’s happy talk on the medical front. But on Tuesday, Duncan said he’s very encouraged by Carpenter’s status, even though Carpenter has started only 5 games over the last two seasons. Duncan said that team trainer Barry Weinberg told him that Carpenter can have a normal routine in spring training. Carpenter doesn’t have to be held back, or handled with extra care. He can throw and get his work in like all of the other pitchers.  That’s why Duncan is optimistic. Because Carpenter will be ready to go from Day 1 of spring training. No baby steps are needed. Now: that said, Duncan also wanted to make the point that the real tests will come all spring, when Carpenter pitches in games. And that Carpenter must pass those tests. But as for now? Duncan, formerly pessimistic says this: “We have a feeling he’ll be in the opening-day rotation.” That’s because Carpenter at least is starting on schedule as spring training begins. That’s a plus.

2. CHRIS PEREZ AND JASON MOTTE ARE STILL WORKS IN PROGRESS: The pitching coach said he doesn’t want to burden the young pitchers by putting the closer tag on them now. He wants them to have a normal spring training, and work on what they need to work on, without the pressure of carrying around the closer designation. He thinks it’s a big mistake to declare one of them the closer now.  He wants to see what they can do, and how they come along. I asked Duncan: where do Perez and Motte need to improve? Duncan said Perez has to refine his slider and make it more consistent. He said that Perez throws a good slider some of the time, but it’s imperative for Perez to throw a good slider all of the time. Duncan said that right now, hitters are happy when Perez throws the slider, because it isn’t the close to approaching the caliber of his fastball. As for Motte, Duncan said that Motte (who throws so hard) is working on a second and third pitch. Motte has the great fastball, but the slider is far from being a finished product. And the Cardinals want Motte to develop a changeup.  Duncan said there’s no guarantees that both guys will make the club at the end of spring training.  It’s difficult to develop new pitches at the major-league level. Much easier to refine those pitches in the minors. Duncan praised both pitchers for their work ethic and willingness to do what it takes to get better.

3. THE CLOSER’S JOB FOR NOW WILL BE FILLED BY A COMMITTEE: Duncan said the plan is to go into spring training with the idea that several guys can close games. He mentioned Ryan Franklin, Perez, Motte and LH Trever Miller. If they go into the regular season without a set closer, Duncan said the ninth inning will play out based on pitcher vs. hitter matchups — meaning that he’ll give the ball to the reliever who has the best chance to get an out against a particular hitter. My co-host,  Joe Strauss, offered the opinion that this is less than ideal given Duncan and Tony La Russa’s history of preferring to rely on one shutdown closer. And Duncan agreed. But he said it doesn’t have to be this way all season. “Will work it this way if we have to until someone emerges as ‘The Guy,’  ” Duncan said.  I asked Duncan if he had one wish for an addition to the staff during spring training, and he said that he if had to pick one thing it would be “an established closer,” on a one-year deal, until Perez or Motte are ready. He didn’t offer any names.  He also said it wouldn’t make sense to give 4-year, 5-year deal contract to a closer when Perez or Motte will have the job relatively soon.

4. DUNCAN IS EXPECTING MORE FROM JOEL PINEIRO: Last season, in 25 starts, Pineiro went 7-7 with a 5.13 ERA. Batters hit .300 against him with a .507 slugging percentage. Duncan said the team needs more from Pineiro, and that he believes Pineiro can deliver more. Duncan cited two reasons for optimism: he’s convinced that Pineiro feels bad about his performance in 2008 and is determined to do better; Pineiro is in much better shape this spring. “And I don’t think he was in the kind of shape he should have been,” last spring. Duncan didn’t say this, but I will: remember, Pineiro is pitching for a new contract. He’s in his walk-year of a two year deal.

5. DUNCAN IS FIRED UP OVER JOSH KINNEY: After a scintillating showing during the 2006 postseason — three hits allowed and 6 Ks in 6.1 IP — Kinney blew out an elbow and missed the entire 2007 season and much of 2008. Kinney returned late last season and impressed by giving up three hits and striking out 8 in 7 IP. Duncan said that Kinney appeared to have all of his stuff intact: good velocity and command and could throw all of his pitches. He’s excited about having him back for 2009 and thinks he can play a key role in the bullpen, which is probably one of the reasons why the team didn’t re-sign aging RH reliever Russ Springer.

Bonus comments from Duncan: Kyle McClellan will be in the bullpen if Carpenter holds up and continues to make advances this spring. But for now, McClellan is preparing as a starter, just in case. McClellan will go through the first three turns in the rotation once the spring-training games begin, and after that Duncan and La Russa will take a look at the situation with Carpenter (and others) and go from there… Duncan has no reservations or concerns over LH Trever Miller; he said Miller is a physical-conditioning freak who always has his pitching arm in great shape, and nothing has changed. Duncan isn’t concerned that the Cardinals’ physical of Miller detected a slight muscle tear in the shoulder. Duncan said Miller has likely been pitching with it for a few years and that it isn’t a factor… Duncan likes young starting pitcher Mitchell Boggs and said Boggs will be starting in the big leagues in the near future… as for his son, OF Chris Duncan, Dave said that he’s fully recovered from surgery to repair a herniated disk and has regained 100 percent of his strength. Duncan said that Chris has full strength and use of his right arm for the first time since the first half of the 2007 season.

Thanks for reading…

-Bernie