A reason to keep pitching.(My Turn)

During the season, I get a lot of e-mail responding to my column for the SPORTING NEWS. My editors say it's good to answer your readers because it strengthens your bond with them. Well, I've been getting one question quite a bit: What's up with all the changes to my cap? In one loyal reader's opinion, I'm washed up and might want to get a real job.

Let me tell you what has happened over the past few months:

I've made my way to four teams since the start of last season. First, I was with the Rockies. I was released for the first time in my career last June, and as I've said, I couldn't blame them. After that, I signed with the Red Sox and we went to Game 7 of the ALCS--hey, thanks, Aaron Boone. With my ERA a sparkling 5.52, I was shocked the Sox didn't want me back.

It was the first time in my career I thought I was done. If we somehow had won Game 7 and had gone to the World Series, it would have been the perfect time to hang 'em up. I would have been happy going out a winner. But that didn't happen, so I was forced to think about leaving the game without getting that close again.

My thinking changed November 6, when I was asked to visit John Paul Montgomery in my hometown of Pelt City, Ala. Three months earlier, John Paul had suffered a broken neck and a bruised spinal cord during a football game with his ninth grade team. The injuries left him paralyzed.

John Paul was fired up to meet me. To be honest, though, it felt weird that someone who'd had his world turned upside down wanted to meet me. I got him a Red Sox team ball and a sweatshirt that we wore in the playoffs. With his type of injury, he couldn't regulate his body temperature, so he constantly felt cold.

As I got to know John Paul, I found out he didn't need me feeling sorry for him. He just wanted to hang out and talk baseball ...