Wake-Up Call: Eiland at home in Yankee pinstripes

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

It was an early June day in 1987 and University of South Florida pitcher Dave Eiland, preparing for his senior year, was apartment-hunting in Tampa.

He swung by his parents' house in Zephyrhills, just in time for a life-changing telephone call. The New York Yankees had drafted him in the seventh round.

"Never did get that apartment,'' Eiland said with a laugh.

But he found a home, one that still exists all these years later.

Eiland made it to the big leagues with the Yankees - and later with the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Devil Rays - and lasted 10 seasons until his retirement in 2002. He was a grinder, a studious guy always searching for an edge.

When his career was short-circuited by two Tommy John surgeries, Eiland knew he wanted to stay in the game.

He knew, most of all, he was a Yankee.

"So I guess I've got my dream job in the place I always wanted to be,'' said Eiland, a 1984 graduate of Zephyrhills High School, a baseball and football player who is still considered one of the area's top prep athletes.

"I've always considered myself a Yankee. I know how it's done here, what the expectations are like. It's a special place.''

Eiland, 43, is in his second season as the Yankees' pitching coach. After spending five years in the Yankees' minor-league organization, working his way up the chain as pitching coach from Class A to Triple-A, he was hired by New York manager Joe Girardi.

And now, with the Yankees assuming first place in the American League East, things have never been better for Eiland.

"I love Dave's work ethic,'' Girardi said. "He's tireless. He's always trying to make all of our guys better and spends a lot of hours at the ballpark.

"I think he can relate to a lot of these guys. As a player, he had to work his tail off and it never came easy. He had injuries, he went through rehab and he knows the emotions of having ups and downs in this game. He can see things through their eyes.''

No one relates better than Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees' prodigy who has worked under Eiland at every step of his career.

Chamberlain, who starts against the Rays tonight in the series finale at Tropicana Field, said Eiland can get across his message with a gesture - no words needed - because they know each other so well.

"Pitchers tend to make things harder than they really are and he [Eiland] breaks it down and makes it easy to understand,'' Chamberlain said. "He knows what to say, when to say it. I have 1,000 percent trust in him and he has trust in me. That's the kind of relationship every pitcher in this game wants with his coach.''

Eiland's techniques were a lifetime in the making.

He said he plucked something - what to do and even what not to do - from nearly every manager or pitching coach who worked with him as a player. Early on, he realized he wasn't going to become a major-league superstar (his career record was 12-27 with a 5.74 ERA), so the preparation for a coaching career was ongoing.

"I'm not one of those 'what-if' kind of guys,'' said Eiland, who maintains an offseason home in Wesley Chapel with his wife, Sandra, and their daughters, Nicole and Natalie. "There's not much I would change from my playing career. I worked as hard as I could and, unfortunately, some injuries happened. I took good care of myself, but was unlucky in that respect. I sleep well at night knowing I gave everything I had.

"I was never going to overpower anybody, so it was very important for me to study hitters and their swings, to prepare and take in every detail. Obviously, that has served me well in becoming a pitching coach. For me, it's all about how you prepare.''

But it starts with the proper delivery and mechanics. Without those qualities, Eiland said, scouting reports aren't that helpful.

"If you aren't able to command the ball, you can't attack somebody's weaknesses,'' Eiland said. "It sounds like simple stuff, but throwing strikes, getting ahead of the hitter, attacking the zone, that's what it's all about.

"Nobody has all the answers. Obviously, because of my background, I have [an affinity] for the grinder, the hard-working guy who's always studying and preparing. But believe me, I love working with the guys who just have that off-the-charts talent. And they still want the information and whether or not you see something that may not be right.''

Whether it's front-line starters such as CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett or a youngster just breaking into the big leagues, Eiland tries to find the best way to help.

Getting to know the pitchers as individuals, usually in the quiet moments of spring training, helps to establish a relationship.

"We're lucky to have a great group of guys and we're all on the same page,'' Eiland said. "It's going well, but we're not there yet. This [AL East] race is far from over. Every day, we've got to concentrate on working and grinding.

"But that's all I've ever known anyway.''

Radke honored by Twins

The Minnesota Twins, moving to an outdoor stadium next season, announced their All-Metrodome Team on Tuesday night. Right-hander Brad Radke (Jesuit), who was 148-139 in 12 seasons before his retirement in 2006, was named to the starting pitching staff, along with Bert Blyleven, Johan Santana and Frank Viola.

The other players: Relievers Rick Aguilera and Joe Nathan, catcher Joe Mauer, first basemen Kent Hrbek and Justin Morneau, second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, shortstop Greg Gagne, third baseman Gary Gaetti, outfielders Tom Brunansky, Dan Gladden, Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett and designated hitter Paul Molitor.

Tom Kelly, who oversaw World Series championship teams in 1987 and 1991, was the manager.

Walk-off winner for Gload

Former USF baseball player Ross Gload hit the first walk-off home run of his eight-season major-league career on Tuesday night, slamming a two-run shot as a pinch-hitter and lifting the Florida Marlins past the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Bullock off to great start

Former University of Florida closer Billy Bullock (Riverview) is off to a big start in the minor leagues. He started with Elizabethton in the Appalachian League and is now with the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League. Combined, Bullock is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA and three saves. In 14 1/3 innings pitches, he has 14 strikeouts and just two walks.

Golden memories

Twenty-five years ago today, the Los Angeles Olympic Games began amid a boycott by the Soviet Union. Brandon's Jeff Turner was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. men's basketball team (where Bobby Knight was the coach and Michael Jordan was a teammate). Meanwhile, Winter Haven's Rowdy Gaines won the 100-meter freestyle event in men's swimming, while swimming the anchor leg for the 4x100-meter freestyle and 4x100-meter medley relay teams.

Urban Meyer returns to Lakeland

In May, the Lakeland Gator Gathering outdoor speaking engagement of Urban Meyer was washed out by torrential rain. Meyer, the Florida football coach, promised area fans a mulligan and returned to the Polk Theatre on Monday night.

"To be honest with you, I'm not sure I would do this a lot of other places,'' Meyer told the Lakeland Ledger. "That's how much respect I have. The history of Florida football comes right through Polk County. No better name than Ben Hill Griffin on our stadium.''

Lakeland has been good to Meyer's Gators. Six former Lakeland High Dreadnaughts are on UF's roster - including standout offensive linemen Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, safety Ahmad Black and running back Chris Rainey.

"The legend of the 'Gatornaught' must continue, so make sure you spread the word,'' Meyer told the crowd of 900 people. "I love those guys. They came from one of the best high school programs in America, maybe in high school football history.''

9th NBA team for Chucky Atkins

Since his first season in 1999-2000, former University of South Florida point guard Chucky Atkins, 34, has lived an NBA odyssey, joining the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder - and now, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Wolves acquired Atkins (and Damien Wilkins) from Oklahoma City in exchange for center Etan Thomas. Wolves general manager David Kahn hinted Atkins could be on the move again (only $760,000 of Atkins' $3.48-million contract is guaranteed, making him attractive for another trade or giving financial savings to Minnesota if the player is paid off and cut loose).

Atkins has career averages of 10.2 points and 3.5 assists.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs nose tackle Randy Crowder, whose son, Channing, became a standout linebacker at the University of Florida and an NFL player. Thursday, the elder Crowder turns 57.

The Answer Man

Eiland is the only pitcher to allow a home run against the first batter he ever faced in the major leagues AND hit a home run in his first major-league at-bat. Eiland, playing for the Yankees, surrendered a home run to Milwaukee's Paul Molitor on Aug. 3, 1988. Then, playing for the Padres, Eiland hit a home run against Dodgers left-hander Bob Ojeda on April 10, 1992.

Wednesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Name the only Zephyrhills High School athlete to be selected in the first round by a professional sports team.

Check for the answer in Thursday's Wake-Up Call.