Former Central pitcher may be next in pro line

Talley Haines wants to become the first baseball player raised primarily in Cape Girardeau to reach the major leagues in nearly 50 years.

His numbers on the Triple A minor-league level -- which is just one step below the majors --suggest he might not be far off.

"I really think I'm going to make it," Haines said from Durham, N.C. "It's something I've always dreamed about, and I think it's going to happen."

Haines, a right-handed pitcher for Tampa Bay's top farm team, the Durham Bulls, is having an impressive season. Working primarily in middle relief, he is 4-1 with one save and a 2.11 earned-run average. In 47 innings, he has allowed 36 hits while striking out 44 and walking eight.

"I got off to a good start this year and it kind of gave me some confidence. I've been able to do good since then," Haines said. "But it's a long season, and a lot can happen."

Haines, 26 and in his sixth minor-league season, has seen one Bulls pitcher after another -- many with less impressive statistics -- called up to the Devil Rays at one time or another this year during Lou Piniella's first season as their manager.

While Haines admits he sometimes can't help but wonder when his time will come, he tries to keep those thoughts to a minimum.

"I think about it, but I try to stay on an even keel and not get too high or too low," Haines said. "It's a cliché, but I try to take everything as it comes. I've seen a lot of guys get frustrated, get bitter on the game, and it hurts them.

"If I start looking at certain things I can get frustrated because I have no control over it. I feel like my time will come. If not, I have no control over it."

Haines, a Central High School graduate, played on the Tigers' 1994 Class 4A state championship team, and he was the winning pitcher in the title contest. He also was a member of Cape Girardeau's 1994 American Legion state championship squad.

After pitching two seasons at Southeast Missouri State University, Haines transferred to Freed-Hardeman in Tennessee. One strong year at the NAIA school led him to being selected by Tampa Bay in the 25th round of the 1998 baseball draft.

Haines, whose fastball can hit upwards of 90 mph but whose best pitches are a sinker and changeup, has put up solid numbers at every stop in his professional career. He finally made it up to Triple A Durham toward the end of 2000 and has been with the Bulls ever since.

The last major-leaguer from Cape Girardeau -- excluding Southeast Missouri State products -- was Bill Upton, a pitcher who appeared in just two games for the old Philadelphia A's in 1954.

The last Cape Girardeau product to even reach the Triple A level was Haines' coach at Central, Steve Williams, who played in the Phillies' organization in the mid-1980s.

While Cape Girardeau has not produced many high-level professional prospects in a long time, Haines still credits the city for much of his success.

"The community has helped me get to where I'm at, from Little League coaches to high school coaches to American Legion coaches," Haines said. "Coach Williams has helped me a lot. He's been where I'm at, and in the offseason he opens the gym so I can throw, and we talk about some of the stories when he played."

Haines, who is married to former Southeast volleyball player Jackie Derwort and is the son of longtime Southeast track coach Joey Haines, hopes to take the final step that Williams never did.

"They say in high school and college that if you're good enough, the scouts will find you," he said. "It's the same in the majors. If you're good enough, you'll get a chance. Right now I do feel like I'm good enough."