Glavine wins 300th!

Congrats to former Atlanta Braves picture (current Met) Tom Glavine for winning his 300th game. That's quite the milestone in Major League Baseball statistics. Only 23 players have ever done it.

Watching Glavine win 300 brought back the same feeling that I got when I watched Greg Maddux win his 300th: how incredible that pitching staff for the Braves was back in the early/mid 90s. It brought back memories of hot summer nights while sitting with my step-Grandfather and a radio. We'd listen to Skip Carey broadcast the Braves games.

Those Braves had 2 future 300 game winners, plus John Smoltz who has won over 200 plus some years being by far the most dominant closer in the game. Then even on top of that, the 4th starter was seldom too shabby. Charlie Leibrant then Steve Avery then Deny Neagle, amongst a few others. Even 5th starter Kent Mercker pitched a no hitter back in the day.

But the fact that that team had two future 300 game winners at one time, that's just staggering. If Smoltz had not moved to the bullpen those middle years, he might eventually of had 300. 7 collective Cy Young Awards between the 3 of them (Maddux 4, Glavine 2, Smoltz 1) That's unheard of. If they were batters, that would be like having Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron on the same team at the same time.

I doubt I will ever see another 300 game winner in my lifetime. The only other player within striking distance (no pun intended) would be Randy Johnson whose completely lost it and just had another back surgery to boot. Nobody else will do it, not unless the current 100-pitch-count-and-you-are-pulled philosophy dies. Getting pulled after 100 pitches isn't enough to win 300 games. With the growth of dependency on the middle relievers, 300 won't happen again for a very long time. I doubt it ever will.

Congrats, Mr. Glavine. You are the last of a dying breed. And please go into the Hall of Fame with a Braves cap. The South still loves you...even if you did move to New York.

Comments

Ryan said…
Fine sentiments indeed, and I agree. My brother, however, has never forgiven Glavine for selling himself to New York.

-R

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