Tom Glavine

Glavine earned win No. 300, finishing at 303, and probably should have earned at least three more during the season. Other than his 13 victories, he did not have a particularly good 2007 season as his ERA, WHIP and BAA all increased and his strikeouts per nine innings plummeted to 4.00 from 5.95 in 2006. He pitched well in April and in August but sandwiched those months around poor ones in May-July, while saving his worst for last, posting a 6.10 ERA in September largely due to getting hammered his last three starts. Next season is expected to be his final year as he signed a one-year, $8 million contract to return to Atlanta where he will be the team's No. 3 starter.

For the second time in three years, Glavine got off to a very strong start before struggling in the second half of the season. However, this time, unlike in 2004, he was able to right the ship and finish strong in September. Coldness in the ring finger of his pitching hand resulted in a blood clot scare that cost Glavine some starts in August, but the ailment turned out to be related to a long-standing condition that could be treated with baby aspirin. Glavine signed a one-year contract to return to New York and enters the season just 10 wins shy of the coveted 300 mark, a total he should reach sometime this year.

Just as in 2004, Glavine spun a tale of two halves in 2005, but this time he reversed the order. After posting a 4.94 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and .325 BAA before the All-Star break, he ran out the clock with a 2.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and .228 BAA. Glavine reversed his pitching pattern by using his fastball on the inner half of the plate, which in turn set up his changeup and curveball. With a 2006 option vested, Glavine will be back in the Mets' rotation once again.

Glavine's 2004 campaign was a tale of two halves. In his first 15 starts, he went 7-3 with a 2.07 ERA. In his next 18 starts, he went 4-11 with 5.08 ERA, including a horrible stretch after he was involved in an auto accident while on his way to Shea Stadium on August 10 and suffered injuries to his face. In a reversal from his first season in New York, Glavine took advantage of pitching at Shea to the tune of a 2.84 ERA and .234 BAA versus a 4.12 ERA and .266 BAA on the road. Expect more positive returns with the Mets fielding a stronger defensive infield in 2005.

Glavine earned very little in 2003 of the three-year, $35-million free-agent contract he signed in December 2002. He seemingly spent as much time arguing about how the Questec system was squeezing the strike zone costing him strikes as he did actually pitching in games. Glavine meandered through his worst season since his 1999 campaign with the Braves. At Shea Stadium, a known pitcher's park, he had a 5.22 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. We fear that Glavine will struggle again this year with the Mets in their transition.

Glavine ends one of the most productive runs in baseball history in leaving the Braves for the Mets. He's one of only two players to make the postseason 12 years in a row - and all with the Braves. Moving to Shea Stadiuim should help his WHIP and ERA, but will the Mets be able to generate enough offense to boost his win total and keep his streak alive? He'll be 37 this season so how much longer can he be an ace? We think this year he'll still be solid, but the risk is to the downside at his age.