"Braves veteran Tom Glavine's thoughts were on pitching again, not retirement, after a pain-free bullpen session Monday at Turner Field. It was his first time throwing off a mound in three weeks.

"I'm encouraged by it," the 43-year-old left-hander said after about making 35-40 pitches in a 15-minute session, his first since shoulder pain forced him from a minor-league rehab start April 12.

"My biggest concern going out today was going through my windup and making pitches the way I wanted to, without feeling like I was cutting anything off [on arm extension] to try not to make it hurt. And I accomplished that," Glavine added.

Baseball's only active 300-game winner had elbow and shoulder surgeries last Aug. 21 and has been on the disabled list since the season began. His scheduled mid-April return to the rotation was scrubbed by the setback, which he sustained while batting in what was to have been his last minor league start.

"My side session today was better than any of my side sessions in spring training, as far as how I felt and how crisp my pitches were," said the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Glavine thinks he could be ready to pitch five innings in a minor league game within two weeks, provided he has no problems recovering from Monday's session or the subsequent steps in recovery. His next bullpen session is scheduled for Friday.

Dr. James Andrews examined him after the April 12 incident and prescribed two weeks of rest. Glavine indicated then that if he didn't feel better after the rest period, he'd consider retirement.

He pushed those thoughts to the back burner Monday. Throwing with what he said was about 65-percent effort, he said his location was good and he did not alter his delivery to avoid any discomfort."