My first year in the big leagues, I made $17,000. It was easy to go out and get another $17,000 relief pitcher. I never worried about innings or pitches. I just pitched.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In the minor leagues, previous to 2008, I took a lot of pitches. I prided myself on on-base percentage. I made sure that I made the pitcher work.
For a quarter of a century, I've been playing baseball for pay. It has been pretty good pay, most of the time. The work has been hard, but what of it? It's been risky. I've broken both my legs. I've sprained everything I've got between my ankles and my disposition. I've dislocated my joints and fractured my pride.
I could have played another year, but I would have been playing for the money, and baseball deserves better than that.
The Cubs gave me a chance to play. They signed me as a free agent and brought me to the Major Leagues. The first day I walked into Wrigley Field was one of the best days of my life. And I owe them an awful lot.
The money I saved during baseball was probably all gone. I'm tapped out.
A major league pitching coach is a really difficult job. It takes a big commitment in terms of time, travel and workload.
Playing baseball was my dream, and no amount of money could sway my opinion.
I've done literally everything there is to do on a baseball field as a pitcher.
I've pitched too many innings and pitched too many years - one game doesn't make or break my career.
I came into the game when I broke into the major leagues, the minimum salary was seven thousand dollars, and I'd have to go home in the wintertime and get a job.