"Maybe it was just as well Randy Johnson's first attempt at win No. 300 got washed out Wednesday in Washington.The possible end to the career of the most recent member to enter the 300-win club deserves its own spotlight, whether it be to dissent with his release by the Braves, nod in agreement or wax nostalgic.

Tom Glavine's second go-round with Atlanta ended in abrupt, businesslike fashion, which is perhaps appropriate for a player who, as the Braves' player representative during the acrimonious negotiations that led to the 1994 strike, knows better than most the business side of the game.

Glavine, the winningest active pitcher with 305 victories, was due a $1 million roster bonus upon his activation from a rehab assignment. But the Braves insisted their decision was strictly based on his performance after watching his three rehab starts in the minors.

"Our evaluation was that he would not be successful at the major-league level," general manager Frank Wren said. "Our view over the course of the last month was that he has not improved."

Glavine, 43, had made only one major league start since last June and was trying to bounce back from surgery to his shoulder and elbow. The timing of his release was a stunner because he had just pronounced himself ready to rejoin the big club.

"I'm surprised and disappointed," Glavine said in a text message to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'm ready to pitch."

He did not specify whether he would try to hook up with another team. Family considerations were a big part of Glavine's decision to return to Atlanta after the 2007 season, when he could have stayed with the Mets for a lot more money than the Braves were offering.

Longtime teammate Chipper Jones said Braves players were taken aback by the release after Glavine apparently had worked himself into playing shape.

"It would have been a storybook ending if he got it here," Jones said. "Emotionally, we all wanted to see Glav come in here and finish up. He's not going to be allowed to do that."

If this is the end of the line for Glavine, he will go out with strong Hall of Fame credentials, including two Cy Young Awards and five 20-win seasons.

Reflecting on the contrasting styles between Johnson, still a power pitcher at 45, and his former teammates Glavine and Greg Maddux, Jones said:

"It just goes to show you, you can do it in many different ways. All three guys were in incredible shape. All three guys pitched well into their 40s. And all three guys had their different ways of getting people out. Randy is with the strikeout. The guys in Atlanta were more finesse pitchers."

In his blog, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley says letting go of Glavine was the right move, and overdue.

Busy Braves: To their credit, the Braves have recognized their flaws and made moves to remain relevant in the tough NL East. Not only did they announce the promotion of top prospect To