PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks want their pitchers to work inside this season, and that might be the best way to describe the team's eight-week search for a new pitching coach. They have played it that close to the vest. After hiring Dave Duncan to the newly created position of special adviser to the general manager/pitching consultant, the D-backs interviewed both in-house and outside candidates last week to find a replacement for Charles Nagy. Brad Arnsberg, who spent last season as the D-backs' major- and minor-league rehab coordinator based at Salt River Fields, was among those who have been interviewed, a source said. Arnsberg, 50, has extensive experience as a major league pitching coach, working in that capacity with Montreal (2000-01), Florida (2002-03), Toronto (2005-09) and Houston (2010-11). The 2003 Marlins won the World Series with a starting rotation of Carl Pavano, Brad Penny, Mark Redman, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, and the staff was above league average in most pitching categories. Willis won 14 games as a 21-year old rookie, and Redman had the best season in his 10-year career, going 14-9 with a 3.59 ERA. He had a career-high in victories and a career-low ERA. There already has been plenty of off-season movement among pitching coaches. New Cincinnati manager Bryan Price hired former D-back pitching coordinator Jeff Pico as his pitching coach. Seattle hired Rick Waits, and Philadelphia added Bob McClure after Atlanta pitching coach Roger McDowell and Pittsburgh special assistant Jim Benedict turned down the job. Despite managerial changes, Jeff Jones remained with Detroit and Chris Bosio with the Chicago Cubs. Arnsberg was relieved of his duties in Houston 67 games into the 2011 season, a move that did not sit well with some members of the Astros' staff. "I think it's kind of unfair to the pitching staff a little bit," said Brett Myers, who credited Arnsberg for his turnaround in 2010. "It's not our job to sit here and complain about what's unfair ... for us. It's something they felt needed to be done and it's done." Arnsberg was the ninth player taken in the first round of 1983 draft by the New York Yankees and was 9-6 in six major league seasons. He was 6-1 with five saves and a 2.15 ERA with Texas in 1990, his only full season. He saved Nolan Ryan's 300th victory on July 31, 1990. He is a native of Medford, Ore. Manager Kirk Gibson already has made several staff changes, promoting Turner Ward to hitting coach after Don Baylor left for the Los Angeles Angels and moving Glenn Sherlock from bullpen coach to third-base coach when Matt Williams was hired as manager in Washington. Dave McKay, who worked with Duncan in St. Louis, replaced Steve Sax as the first-base coach. The D-backs also are looking for a bullpen coach and a seventh coach with a job description to be determined. Ward was the seventh coach last season as the assistant hitting coach. Gibson has said that base running needs to improve this season, and the final hire could have expertise in that area. Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter
