The part of his career that everyone will forget in twenty years will be his awful, heartless stint with the New York Metropolitans. I'll never forget his first and last starts as a New York Met. He came in the same way he went out.
He left Atlanta after a 18-11 season where he posted a 2.96 ERA. Mets fans hoped they found a villain turned hero. What they did find was a former Cy Young winner with diminishing skills who's heart was never in New York.
In his first game as a Met, the home opener in 2003, Glavine lasted 3.2 innings and gave up 8 hits, 4 walks, and 5 earned runs. The Mets lost the home opener to the Cubs 15-2, a grand opening for the big off-season signing.
During his five years as a Met he had one nice moment, he won his 300th game as a Met at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Other than that I cannot remember any poignant moments during his career in Flushing Meadows.
Not many people remember his first start as a Met, but most sure do remember the last.
Two years ago with the Mets needing one win to force a playoff the the Philadelphia Phillies, on the last day of the regular season, the Mets sent Glavine to the hill and Shea Stadium was shaking at the foundation.
Tommy Boy lasted 0.1 innings, he gave up 7 earned runs on 5 hits en route to a 8-1 Mets loss, completing the worst end of season collapse in baseball history.
Bad starts happen to everyone, and I wouldn't be as bitter as I am today if it weren't for Glavine's demeanor while giving his post game comments. Glavine was nonchalant, he seemed like he just wanted to head back to Atlanta, he never showed me he cared.
There is nothing worse than a player that doesn't connect with his fans. I always knew it was a bad idea to have an Atlanta Brave as a Mets ace.
If the Mets won that game two years ago, they wouldn't be known as choke artists and maybe September wouldn't be my least favorite month anymore.
Cheers to you Tom Glavine.
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