MLB- Tom Glavine Wins Number 298
One of the class acts of baseball, starting pitcher Tom Glavine, posted his 298th win on July 14, 2007.
In 20 season, Glavine has 17 season where he has won 10 or more games. In 16 seasons, he has had 32 or more starts. He has 16 season of 100 or more K’s.
Total stats include:
298 Wins and 197 Loses
3.48 ERA
2,539 SO
4,273.1 IP
655 Starts
That’s a 20-plus year career!
Glavine spent 16 years as the Atlanta ace and has been with the Mets for five seasons. With Atlanta he had five seasons of 20 or more wins. Glavine, a lefty, has won the Cy Young twice. In 1995, he was the World Series MVP, winning games two and six against the Cleveland Indians. The sixth game, which Atlanta won 1- 0, was the series clincher. Glavine pitched eight innings of one-hit, shutout ball. He also pitched in the 1991. 1992, 1996 and 1999 World Series.
Glavine has survived for more than 20 years in MLB by adjusting to his diminishing physical abilities. As his velocity has deteriorated, he’s developed numerous off-speed pitches, including a killer circle changeup that nips the outside corner. Control has been a huge asset for Glavine, allowing him to keep batters off balance. He’s developed an array of pitches, including a two-seam fastball, slide and curve.
As a hitter, he’s .188 BA lifetime is decent for pitchers and his 201 sacrifice bunts ranks him second in that category to all active players.
Glavine’s most recent victory was vintage as “Tom Terrificâ€? allowed the opposition—the Cincinnati Reds– only two hits and one run. The Mets won the game 2 to 1, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and giving save artists Billy Wagner the chance to earn his 19th save. Wagner did so, dropping his ERA to 1.56 in the process.
The win was important for the Mets—a team that has been struggling at late. They are 4 -6 in their past 10 games, while the rival Atlanta Braves have gained ground, going 6- 4. The Phils have gone 5-5 in that same time. Both the Phills and Braves have won three in a row.
The fact is that a quality veteran like Glavine can really be the difference between making and not making the post-season. Glavine had won his last four of five, allowing only five runs in those four wins. His only lose was a 2- 6 decision verusus the hard hitting Rockies. Prior to his last five games, the lefty went 1- 5 with three of those loses due to poor run production on the part of the Mets. In two of those loses, Glavine gave up way too many runs—16. But in the four other starts, where he is 1- 3, he has allowed a total of only nine runs.Glavine seems to have found his control over the last five games, making it tough for hitters to connect and fooling many with sleek pitches.
Congrats to the future Hall of Fame pitcher.
For the Mets, John Maine (10- 5, 2.91 ERA) and Oliver Perez (7- 6, 3.14 ERA) have been dependable. Glavine, with a team leading 20 starts and 119.2 IP, has been the productive workhorse.
Glavine may be the key, along with the dependable closer Wagner, to this team’s success.
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