Sole possession of first place this morning.

Yeah, that'll last.

Call it a wrap, Tom. You had a great career, but it's over.


Tom Glavine out for season, hopes to pitch in 2009

ATLANTA (AP)—Braves pitcher Tom Glavine is out for the season, and his illustrious career could be over if he needs major surgery on his injured left elbow.

The 42-year-old Glavine still hopes to return next year—unless he needs elbow ligament replacement surgery.

A 300-game winner, Glavine said Saturday he will be examined by Dr. James Andrews next week in Alabama. Glavine, placed on the disabled list Friday with a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, plans to have surgery to repair the tendon.

He said he’d give up his comeback hopes for 2009 if Andrews determines the pitcher needs the ligament replacement procedure, known as Tommy John surgery. Rehabilitation after that procedure often takes at least a year.

A two-time NL Cy Young Award winner with Atlanta, Glavine gave up seven runs in four innings against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in his first start since June 10. He is 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 games this season, and 305-203 in his career.

Glavine said his elbow began to stiffen in the fourth inning against the Cubs.

“I know it’s not going to get any better,” he said. “Clearly it’s not going to hold up under the stress of me going out there every five days and throwing a lot of pitches.”

Glavine said Braves doctors think the damage in his elbow is limited to the tendon. If Andrews confirms Glavine does not need ligament replacement surgery, the pitcher said he could have the tendon surgery immediately and recover in time for a normal offseason program.

“By no means do I want to go through another year with what I’m going through now,” he said. “But at the same time, I don’t think I want my career to end this way, either. I think that lends me to think I want to pitch next year. I think it’s easier to walk away if you can honestly tell yourself, you know what, I can’t do it anymore. And I don’t know that I can answer that question right now because my body hasn’t allowed me to do it this year as much I wanted to.”

Though his overall numbers are disappointing, Glavine said: “When I was healthy, I pitched well. When I wasn’t, I didn’t. That makes it harder to say I can’t do it anymore.”

He said he would have the tendon repaired even if he retires so he could play baseball and hockey with his children.

Glavine turned down a $13 million option with the Mets to sign an $8 million deal with the Braves for 2008. He kept his offseason home in Atlanta while pitching five years with the Mets.

Glavine pitched for Atlanta from 1987-2002 and won 20 games or more five times. He said he would only pitch for the Braves in 2009, but he doesn’t know if he will be offered a contract.

“I can want to all I want,” he said. “If they don’t want me to come back, it really doesn’t matter.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. At this stage in my life, I’ve done that. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Braves general manager Frank Wren talked with Glavine on Saturday but said “it’s way too early” to give a commitment for next season.

“We’ll see how things play out over the course of the winter for us and for him, and his prognosis if he does have to have surgery,” Wren said. “There’s a lot of factors that we just don’t have enough answers yet.”

The Braves have lost their top three starters—Glavine, John Smoltz and Tim Hudson—for the season, leaving rookies Jair Jurrjens, Jorge Campillo and Charlie Morton in the rotation.

Rafael Soriano, who began the season as the closer, is on the disabled list for the third time this year with a sore elbow.

Mets-Phils tonight, Counselor.

Not only can we out-philosiphise you. We can outplay you.

It's on now, my friend.

It's on, like Donkey Kong.

This starts the sprint to the finish.

Down 6-0 in the third. I'm glad I didn't go.

Oh i don't know Klyd?

Don't give up,anything could happen.

The Phillies might come back from 7 down and win in the 13th inning.....?

Something like that maybe

You will be a happy chap today i bet?

PB,not so happy though i guess?

I had to look at my calendar this morning. I could have sworn it was 2007.

Oh, my!! That was just mean, Klyd!!

Easy there, Counselor. Save your celebrating for when the City of Philadelphia actually wins something.

Let him have his couple of hours of happiness. When your city hasn't won a thing in 30 years, it takes very little to get them excited.

It's 28 years, thank you very much. Now it's really on.

I guess this morning will feel like every other day.

Then again, what did Willie Randolph say when the Mets huge lead shrunk to just a couple of games..."The champagne will taste even sweeter."

I actually think the difference in playing the Mets this year is Carlos Delgado. While his numbers are a little better than last year's, he has been getting hits in big situations.

Back in May, the media was suggesting releasing Delgado to make statement, and the fans were booing his every at bat. Since then he's been playing like an MVP, and it's almost certain the Mets will pick up his $12 millions option. He was so bad in April and May, it's unbelievable he's going to finish with over 30 HRs and 100 RBIs.

Hey Counselor.

Fri. August 29th 10:50pm EST

New York Mets 75 60 .556

Philadelphia Phillies 73 62 .541 2.0 Games Back

I recall a seven game lead...much later in the season.

Isn't it past your bedtime, Counselor?

Mets' Billy Wagner will be out through 2009 season

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer1 hour, 15 minutes ago

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner needs elbow surgery that will sideline him through the 2009 season. The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since Aug. 3 and the Mets said Monday that he has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left elbow and a torn flexor pronator, which is a muscle in the forearm.

Wagner, a 37-year-old left-hander, will have surgery later this week.

I heard this on the radio and immediately thought of you Mets fans here, especially JL and PB. Speaking of which, where the hell IS PB lately?? He must be checking his Florida place for storm damage.

At 37, I have a feeling that may not just be season-ending, but also career-ending surgery for Wagner. It's a shame.

Exactly, Babe. I got back a couple of days ago.

Counseloooooooooor??????

Come out, come out wherever you are . . .

Four in the loss column, with the Phils playing the Brewers this weekend, and the Mets playing the lowly Braves, then the lowly Nationals again.

As the incomparable Howie Rose says, "Put it in the books!"

No offense, PB, but how many games are left in the regular season?? Because the Mets were ahead 7 games with 17 to go last year. I wouldn't get too cocky.

Different mindset, Babe. They enjoy playing for this guy Manuel (and yes, I liked Willie).

I hope so, anyway.

Me, too. I would like to see one NY team in the postseason this year. It sure as hell isn't going to be mine.

What I really want is for Joe to get to manage a playoff game in New York this year.

It looks like it might just happen. Of course, I'm rooting for my Mets, but the idea of Torre in the New York post season is probably enough to give Hank Steinbrenner acid reflux.

Good enough reason for me.

I'm going to the game tomorrow night (9/12) against the Braves. I thought I had made my last trip to Shea last month, but I decided I wanted to go one more last time, in case I don't get any post season tickets.. I picked up a pair of Field Box Seats for $40 on eBay.

Sounds great, Lou. I was thinking of taking my Dad on Sunday.

If you decide to go, you can get seats real cheap for this series on eBay and StubHub. Much less than 1/2 price.

Enjoy, guys. Hope you have a great time.

Well, it looks a little bleak for the Fightins, but don't start popping the champagne corks yet. Remember, it was the "lowly Nationals", who swept your butts last Sptember. The Big Fella is really heating up this month, and we took the first one from the Brewers and Sheets, and, like you guys, we don't have to face Sabathia in our 4 game series.

Last year at this time I was thinking the Phils had a shot at the wild card and not the division. The Rockies made the amazing charge to get the WC. I think the Astros might be this year's Rockies.