When Dave Eiland made his major-league debut with the New York Yankees in 1988, after spending only 1{ years in the minors and compiling a 19-9 record, he hoped it would be the start of a long big-league career. The right-hander didn't expect it would be the start of a nine-year shuttle between the majors and minors. He pitched parts of the next three seasons for Triple-A Columbus and the Yankees. He started 1992 and '93 with San Diego, but each season he ended the year in the minors. He got back to the majors for the last time in 1995, pitching in four games for the Yankees. Since then there have been stops in Louisville, Columbus and Tampa. This season Eiland is in the minors again, with Triple-A Durham. He was a minor-league invitee to Devil Rays spring training and pitched well in B games, allowing one run in seven innings. But he was sent to the minor-league camp. Eiland is pitching well at Durham; he is 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA in six starts. But he has learned from experience that good performance doesn't always mean a ticket to the majors. "I've been around long enough to know that you can't let that affect you on the field," he said. "As long as you keep doing well, then hopefully someone will notice." His overall minor-league record through Sunday was 91-50 with a 3.48 ERA. As a major-leaguer he is 6-15 with a 5.26 ERA. If Eiland does make it to Tropicana Field, he surely will have a big rooting section. He was born in Dade City and grew up in Zephyrhills, and he was a star at South Florida. He signed with the Rays in December after his contract with the Yankees expired. "(Getting a chance to pitch in Tampa Bay) wasn't the main reason I signed, but it was a factor," he said. "I saw an opportunity with the Devil Rays. It would be great to pitch in the area I grew up." Eiland did get to pitch at home last season. While on a rehabilitation assignment because of elbow tendinitis, he pitched in the Gulf Coast League and with Tampa of the Florida State League before moving up to Columbus. Eiland said his elbow is back to full strength and that he is pitching better than he has in the past. "I've never been one of those mid-90s guys," Eiland said. "I have to rely on a lot of late movement on the ball. I get a lot of ground-ball outs. That's the way I've been pitching this year." He hopes to get another shot at the big leagues. But if he doesn't, Eiland has baseball in perspective "Even though I'm down here, I'm enjoying it," he said. "Not everyone can do it. I don't see an end to it in the near future."