It's a small world

Back in May of 2006, I wrote a story during Wild Things spring training about Matt Paul (pictured), an infielder who was trying to make the team after being released from the Los Angeles Dodgers' system. That was the story in a nutshell.

There was more to the story, which ran as the main piece on the front page of the Sunday sports section, than just baseball. Paul was trying to rebuild not only his baseball career but his life as well. A native of Slidell, La., Paul and his family had their house destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. The Paul family's residence was two miles from Lake Pontchartrain.

When the hurricane approached, Paul, his parents and sister drove to Jackson, Miss., to stay with relatives and wait out the storm.

When the Pauls returned to Slidell, they found their home in tatters.

"Everything in the neighborhood was black. No sidewalks, no concrete, just black mud," Paul said five years ago. "I'll always remember that like it was yesterday. There were boats in the middle of the streets. Everbody's belongings – refrigerators, clothes – were scattered all over the place. Houses were destroyed, either knocked down or flooded."

Paul didn't make the Wild Things' opening-day roster. He was cut in spring training, and I'm sure those who read that Sunday feature story about him had long forgotten it.

So why am I bringing this up? Because of this roster move today:

"The Pittsburgh Pirates made their second waiver claim in a week, taking outfielder Xavier Paul from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates added Paul to the 40-man roster by moving Scott Olsen from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. … Paul must also be put on the 25-man roster when he reports to Pittsburgh. … Paul has played parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, having 146 career at-bats."

Xavier Paul is Matt Paul's brother.