A MAJOR FIND FOR HOGAN: CARDS' JAMES FINDS ROOTS WITH SOUTHEAST COACH

The mutton chops of St. Louis Cardinals reliever Mike James are new, but when Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan looks at the mound, he can't help but see the same old arm.

As the rest of the baseball world becomes more familiar with James as the Cardinals progress in the postseason, Hogan can recall his first look at the hard-throwing right-hander 14 years ago in surroundings far removed from Busch Stadium.

"Mike and I go a long way back and I think we have a special relationship," said Hogan.

Hogan's relationship with James dates back to 1986 when he coached at Lureen Wallace Junior College in Alabama. It was then that Hogan actually discovered the then-unknown James.

While at Lureen Wallace, Hogan recruited heavily in Florida, and a tryout he held was attended by James, who had experienced some problems with his Fort Walton Beach High School coach and did not play baseball during his senior season.

"At the juco level, you could have tryouts, and I would send letters to all the high school coaches around," recalled Hogan. "When Mike came to the tryout and threw, he just blew my mind. I had never had anybody throw like that. I asked him why I hadn't seen him pitch this year (in high school) and he said he had had some problems with his coach and didn't play."

James wound up signing with Hogan and had two brilliant junior-college seasons as a starter, very nearly leading Lureen Wallace to the juco world series.

"He was just a devastating pitcher for me," said Hogan. "I remember one game, in the Alabama state juco tournament, under the lights, he struck out 17. It was just an incredible performance."

While James played for Hogan, the coach said he phoned a Dodgers' scout who was a friend of his and alerted the scout to James' talents.

"I called (the scout) and told him he's just got to come see this kid pitch," Hogan said.

The Dodgers ended up drafting James and then signing him following his juco career and James has wound up being a solid big-leaguer despite having to overcome two serious arm injuries along the way.

After toiling in the minor leagues for several seasons, James was acquired by Anaheim and moved up to the big leagues. He responded impressively, going 13-10 with a 3.44 earned-run average from 1995 through 1998 as a prime setup man for closer Troy Percival.

But during that 1998 season, James suffered a serious elbow injury that required surgery. Then, according to Hogan, at about the time his elbow had healed, he blew out his shoulder, which forced him to miss the entire 1999 season. He was eventually released by the Angels and signed by St. Louis, where he worked his way up through spring training to become a vital member of the Cardinals' bullpen.

James went 2-2 with two saves and a 3.18 earned-run average this year, appearing in 51 games. Then during last week's opening playoff series against the Braves, he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and he received credit for the Game 1 victory.

"He definitely hasn't had an easy road, with two arm surgeries in the last three years," said Hogan. "He's really hung in there and that's something that's very impressive."

While Hogan kept in touch with James over the years, the coach was elated when his former hurler signed with the Cardinals because being so close geographically has allowed their relationship to flourish.

"What's really been neat is just being able to connect again from all the years of not seeing each other physically," Hogan said. "I stayed in touch with him for a few years when he got done playing for me and we didn't ever lose touch because I've always been in touch with his mom and dad, but this year, going to St. Louis, I've being able to visit with him before and after games.

"It's been really great, because he's a person I really have a lot of respect for. He had some problems in high school, but he was ideal when he played for me. He was a very gifted athlete, but he also had that drive, and that's something that has allowed him to get to where he's gotten, because he's had to go through some tough times."

James has become known as something of a flaky free spirit -- although a friendly and good-natured one -- with his exaggerated mutton chops and various body piercings.

"He kind of marches to a different drum, but he's a real soft-spoken person, just a real nice guy," said Hogan, who added with a laugh, "When he got to St. Louis, and we got connected again, I asked him what he's doing with all the earrings (piercings). I think he's got five. He said he just wants to look mean out on the mound, but he's still the same guy."