An Interview with Tom Glavine

Here is my brief interview with Tom Glavine yesterday in the Mets clubhouse in Port St. Lucie. Tom was very gracious and accommodating; he had several reporters waiting to talk with him so I may have cut my questioning a bit short because of that. Also, don't forget to follow this link and check out my interview of Rickey Henderson over at Baseball Digest Daily - it's a real beaut.

Martin Gandy: As you approach 300 victories, do you have any regrets doing it in a Mets uniform as opposed to a Braves uniform?

Tom Glavine: No I don't. I think there's benefits for doing it in both places, but I think that it worked out the way that it did for a reason and I think it's the kind of thing that if I'm fortunate enough to get there and do it then I think it will be something that I will enjoy doing in New York.

MG: On the Braves side this off-season, they kind of mentioned that maybe you didn't give them enough time to try and sign you; do you have any comments about that?

TG: Everybody knew what my timeframe was pretty much from the start of the winter.

MG: Even with respect to the Braves payroll situation. Maybe they needed to clear some first before they [signed you].

TG: Well, I think that probably was the case, but I certainly can't leave the Mets hanging all winter, and I'm certainly not going to leave myself hanging all winter long. Everybody knew I had a timetable. So, it just didn't work out.

MG: With Pedro on the shelf for most of the season this year, do you feel that you need to carry this staff?

TG: No, I think that obviously it puts a little bit of pressure on my starts, it puts a little bit of importance on my starts. I don't think it's the kind of thing that one player can make up the difference. We all have to pitch in and try and pick up the slack a little bit and do the best we can to make Pedro's absence have the least amount of effect on us as we possibly can. So, I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and pitch well every time anyway regardless of who is or isn't around. You know, hopefully we'll all pitch in and help out.

MG: What's the biggest difference between the Braves clubhouse and the Mets clubhouse?

TG: Right now not a lot. I think they're both pretty laid back, business-like approach to the game, professional approach to the game. I think in New York there's a whole lot more media that follows us around on a daily basis, but in terms of the personalities or the atmosphere in the clubhouse, I think they're pretty similar.

MG: You still root for the Thrashers?

TG: I do, yeah. They're my team now, so I try and get down there as much as I can.

MG: Excited about them going to the playoffs?

TG: I am, I hope they continue playing well and get a good seed, so we'll see what happens; it should be fun.

MG: Thanks a lot.

TG: You're welcome.