June 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine will be a full-time dad for the rest of the 2009 baseball season and take his time deciding whether to retire. Two weeks after the Braves released the 305-game winner on the cusp of his return from shoulder and elbow surgery, Glavine said he won't be back in baseball this year, pitching or otherwise, but is not ruling out next season. "I'm taking the rest of the year off and will evaluate my options this winter," said Glavine in a text message Friday. If he comes back to pitch he would be in rare territory, at age 44 after not pitching for the better part of two seasons. But Glavine's former pitching coach Leo Mazzone, for one, thinks it's not out of the realm of possibility. ..."
June 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Braves brass summoned the proud old pitcher to a private meeting, one of those high-ranking huddles where nothing good ever happens. They dropped the news on him like a falling baby grand. Whatever the words were, this is what the pitcher heard: You've had a great career, old sport. You've meant the world to us. Yadda, yadda. But you're useless to us now. Gotta get younger. You're so yesterday. Nothing personal. And don't let the door hit you on your wrinkly backside on the way out. "That hurt bad," said Phil Niekro, the Hall of Fame knuckleballer who at 44 was cast off by the Braves at the close of the 1983 season. After 25 years with the organization, no less. "I thought I was going ..."
June 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
FoxSports.com reported Saturday that Tom Glavine is considering filing a grievance against the Braves over the reasons for his release. The report said the lefty's agent, Gregg Clifton, had spoken with a labor attorney and the players' union. The collective-bargaining agreement states that players can't be released by their teams because of financial reasons. Glavine would have received a $1 million bonus if he was activated from the disabled list to the major-league roster. Braves general manager Frank Wren and CEO Terry McGuirk have stated that Glavine was released strictly for performance reasons - because the team didn't believe he could be successful at the major-league level."
June 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
"It's not how you go about it," John Smoltz told reporters this week, but how do you go about it? If you're suggesting, as Smoltz and others have, the Braves mishandled the release of Tom Glavine … well, how do you handle it? How does a team say goodbye to someone who isn't ready to leave? Joe DiMaggio retired at age 37, saying he could no longer "be Joe DiMaggio every day." Today's athletes are different. Smoltz got mad and left for Boston because the Braves had the gall to offer too little money to a 41-year-old pitcher - he has since turned 42 - coming off shoulder surgery. And now they've angered Glavine, who's 43 and coming off shoulder and elbow surgery. Two days after he was lopped, ..."
June 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
"The last thing I want to do was come in here and sound like a bitter athlete," Tom Glavine said on 790 The Zone this morning. Call that a swing and a miss. My favorite Brave ever went on the radio (link requires registration) and did himself a massive disservice. He sounded like a bitter athlete. He called the Braves liars. He called them cheap. He said he'd been "misled and mistreated to a certain extent." And also this: "It could have been handled a whole lot better … This organization sometimes boxes itself in. They don't ever take into account [that some] guys deserve to be treated a little bit differently." Tom Glavine was treated differently. He was handed a million dollars coming ..."
June 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
This is not the way Tom Glavine thought it would go, and that's what hurt the most. The 305-game winner said Friday he felt "a sense of betrayal" over his release by the Braves. He thought he would be returning to the mound Sunday from elbow and shoulder surgery. Instead, the day after he finished his rehabilitation, he found out prospect Tommy Hanson would replace him. Glavine dissected his version of what had happened, speaking publicly for the first time since his release on Wednesday. It boiled down to this: Glavine felt the Braves misled him, in both their intentions during his rehabilitation and their explanation of why they were parting ways. He went so far as to say he believed the ..."
June 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves president John Schuerholz issued a public apology to Tom Glavine on Friday afternoon, in the wake of Glavine's angry comments over his release. Schuerholz said that in the meeting that he, manager Bobby Cox and general manager Frank Wren had with Glavine on Wednesday, Schuerholz didn't say enough to explain to Glavine how much he has meant to the organization. "I want to offer an apology to Tommy," Schuerholz said. "We made our decision, but the environment and the tone and the manner at the end of it didn't feel comfortable to me. I tossed and turned pretty much all night long really, after we finished our meeting with Tommy, thinking about here's this guy who has meant so much to ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
"The last thing I want to do was come in here and sound like a bitter athlete," Tom Glavine said on 790 The Zone this morning. Call that a swing and a miss. My favorite Brave ever went on the radio (link requires registration) and did himself a massive disservice. He sounded like a bitter athlete. He called the Braves liars. He called them cheap. He said he'd been "misled and mistreated to a certain extent." And also this: "It could have been handled a whole lot better … This organization sometimes boxes itself in. They don't ever take into account [that some] guys deserve to be treated a little bit differently." Tom Glavine was treated differently. He was handed a million dollars coming ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine said Friday that he was "blindsided" by his sudden dismissal this week from the team where he was a 10-time All Star. Interviewed Friday morning on the "Mayhem in the A.M." radio show on 790 The Zone, Glavine said he thinks Braves officials were hoping he would get hurt so that they wouldn't have to pay a $1 million bonus he would have been due if he had been added to the active roster. "Absolutely, they were hoping I got hurt, no question in my mind," Glavine said. "They figured I would either get hurt, and that would be the end of it, or I would pitch so poorly that they figured I was a standup person and would say, 'no.'" Glavine said his ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
A day after the Braves released franchise icon Tom Glavine, high-ranking team executives reiterated general manager Frank Wren's explanation that the move was unanimously agreed upon by team officials and made solely for competitive reasons. The Braves dropped the 43-year-old left-hander and announced that top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson would be brought from Class AAA Gwinnett to take the rotation spot that had appeared earmarked for Glavine once he was healthy. "All of our player personnel [officials] made a unanimous decision to go in the other direction, of youth," Braves CEO Terry McGuirk said Thursday. "That's good enough for me." Glavine, a 305-game winner and two-time Cy Young ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves legend John Smoltz ripped his former team's release of good friend Tom Glavine, telling reporters in Detroit "it's just not how you treat people." "I'm using a very soft word in 'disappointed' because that ain't right," said Smoltz, a teammate of Glavine's for 16 years. The duo won 454 games and three Cy Young Awards as Braves. Glavine, who had been rehabbing from shoulder and elbow surgery, was released Wednesday - "a performance decision," according to Braves General Manager Frank Wren. "To go that far in your rehab, and then right before the time, to do that?" Smoltz said following Wednesday's Red Sox game in Detroit. "Well, it's not my problem anymore, I just feel bad for a ..."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
When Tom Glavine was allowed to leave for the Mets in December 2002, I was outraged. (At the Braves, not at him.) The same Braves released the same Glavine on Wednesday, and here's what I say now: Good move. Tom Glavine is my favorite Brave ever, but it was time - past time - for him to go. I didn't cheer when they brought him back two winters ago, and I was against giving him another chance in 2009. A 43-year-old coming off shoulder and elbow surgery? With Tommy Hanson waiting in the minors? Was this a big-league baseball season or a sentimental journey? "This was not a business decision," Frank Wren told the media Wednesday. "This was a performance decision." And there should be no ..."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Shockwaves made their way around Turner Field on Wednesday. You couldn't feel them, but you sure could hear them. News that the Braves had released veteran pitcher Tom Glavine was met with an audible disbelief by many of those at the ballpark when told of the move. "I'm kind of shocked," said Ron Juarez, a Braves fan from Illinois who came to Turner Field for the first time. "I'm a little bit disappointed by it. The history of Tom Glavine and what he's done for the organization, I'm saddened by it." Glavine, a 305-game winner, was hoping to return to the Braves after surgery to repair his elbow and shoulder. He finished a rehab start on Tuesday and declared himself fit to return. In the ..."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Parting ways with the Braves once was hard enough. Now Tom Glavine has done it twice. On Wednesday afternoon, the Braves released Glavine, a vintage Braves player who won the clinching game for their only World Series championship since coming to Atlanta, saying the 43-year-old had not progressed enough in his comeback from shoulder and elbow surgery. "Our view is that over the course of the last month, he has not improved," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. The day after Glavine, whose 305 career wins ranks 21st all-time, threw six scoreless innings for the Class-A Rome Braves in the final outing of his minor-league rehabilitation, the Braves announced they would call up highly ..."
June 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
After throwing six scoreless innings and earning a win in his third minor-league rehab start in two weeks, Braves pitcher Tom Glavine pronounced himself ready to return to the major leagues Tuesday night as the 43-year-old veteran turned in a solid outing in Rome's 3-0 win over the Augusta Green Jackets in front of a sellout crowd of 5,105 at State Mutual Stadium. "I don't know what else I can do," said Glavine, who threw 65 pitches for the low-Class A Rome Braves, 45 of those for strikes. "Physically I felt good and I feel like I'm ready. "I'd love to get to Atlanta and help the team," he said. "I'll go [to Turner Field] tomorrow and prepare to pitch on Sunday, wherever that is." Glavine ..."
June 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Veteran left hander Tom Glavine is scheduled to make his last injury-rehab start Tuesday for Class-A Rome, and could join the Braves' rotation during the 10-game homestand that begins Tuesday. The 43-year-old is recovering from shoulder and elbow surgeries and has been on the disabled list all season. "His arm strength last time was improved; he felt great," manager Bobby Cox said of Thursday's start at triple-A Gwinnett. "We'll keep our fingers crossed.""
May 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine mentioned a couple of tasks that make his surgically repaired shoulder bark these days - lifting a gallon of milk from a top shelf … holding his new baby. That's right. The 43-year-old Glavine and his wife Chris have a 4-week-old baby at home: a son Kienan Patrick whom they adopted. The Glavines had four children already - Amber, 14, by Glavine's previous marriage, Jonathan, 14, by Chris' previous marriage and two sons together, Peyton, 10, and Mason 8. Glavine has a lot going on in his life other than trying to return from shoulder and elbow surgery. In that comeback department, though, his shoulder bounced back well enough from his simulated game Monday that he expects to ..."
May 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine felt fine after three innings of a simulated game Monday and if his shoulder rebounds well, he will report for a minor league rehabilitation start Saturday in Class AAA Gwinnett. If all continues to progress as it has, Glavine believes he would need only one more minor league outing five days later before he would be ready to make his comeback from elbow and shoulder surgery. Monday marked the first time Glavine had faced live hitters since his setback on April 12, when he re-aggravated his shoulder swinging the bat in a rehabilitation start for Class AA Mississippi. "When I threw bad pitches, being up or over the plate, they put good swings on them," Glavine said. "When I got ..."
May 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine, on the disabled list recovering from a sore shoulder, is scheduled to throw three simulated innings against hitters Monday at Turner Field. If there aren't any problems, Glavine said he would like to pitch in a minor-league game May 23 for Gwinnett at home against Toledo. The 43-year-old left-hander has been on the DL all season after having elbow and shoulder surgeries in August. He suffered a setback when he felt shoulder pain while batting during a minor-league rehab start on April 12, but there were no problems Saturday when he took easy swings in batting practice."
May 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If the Braves need to replace struggling starter Jo-Jo Reyes, they could do it with a 300-game winner. If they can wait a couple of more weeks. Tom Glavine "let it fly" in two simulated innings of work in the Citi Field bullpen Wednesday, then said he felt as good or better than he did in spring training. He hopes to join the Braves' rotation by the end of May. "He threw good," manager Bobby Cox said. "Had more velocity" than previous bullpens. The 43-year-old left-hander has been on the disabled list all season after having shoulder and elbow surgeries in August, then a setback when he had felt shoulder pain while batting in an April 12 minor-league rehab start. Glavine acknowledged he ..."
May 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
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 ..."
April 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine did light throwing in the outfield Tuesday for the third consecutive day without discomfort in his surgically repaired pitching shoulder. The 43-year-old left-hander plans long-tossing sessions from about 100 feet Thursday and Saturday, and if that goes well he'll test the shoulder with a side session on the bullpen mound Monday. "Then we'll go from there," said Glavine, who is on the disabled list and hasn't pitched this season."
April 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The diagnosis for Tom Glavine on Tuesday was that he has a strained rotator cuff and needs to take two weeks to rest before having another evaluation. As to what that really means for the 305-game winner and his future, that's still fairly nebulous. Glavine knew that if his surgeon Dr. James Andrews saw a tear in his rotator cuff on the MRI, the decision would be cut and dried: consider retirement. Since it wasn't, Glavine, 43, is still in a holding pattern. If he had to characterize how he was looking at things Tuesday afternoon, he said it was a glass half-empty. "Right now, for me, the glass is probably half-empty, simply because I'm frustrated and tired with this whole rehab thing," ..."
April 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves pitcher Tom Glavine will travel to Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday to see Dr. James Andrews and find out if some shoulder soreness will slow his comeback or perhaps end his career. It's something the 43-year-old said he's been prepared for all along, but he might be faced with the prospect a little sooner than he anticipated. "I knew it was close, whether I got through this season or not," Glavine told the Journal-Constitution Monday. "I always had a feeling in the back of my mind, now more than ever, any time I go out there something could happen. I'm prepared for that. Obviously I'm hoping not to confront it right now, but if I have to, that's the way it is. It's something where I ..."
April 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine felt discomfort in his pitching shoulder Sunday while batting during a rehabilitation start for Class AA Mississippi and left after two innings. The veteran pitcher said he felt it while swinging, not throwing. "It was all from swinging, felt great before," Glavine said in a text message. The Braves said the 43-year-old left-hander would be evaluated after returning to Atlanta. "I don't know how bad it is, or if it's serious at all," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. Glavine said he didn't have a gut feeling about the severity, either. At the least, the setback could prevent him from making his planned season debut Saturday at Pittsburgh. He was charged with one run in two innings ..."
April 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Four weeks ago, Tom Glavine's surgically repaired shoulder felt creaky and he didn't sound convinced that his comeback would reach fruition. After pitching five effective innings in his third Grapefruit League start Wednesday, the 43-year-old left-hander sounded more confident about his scheduled return to the Braves' rotation next month. "It's more about how do I feel I'm progressing," Glavine (2-0) said after being charged with seven hits and three runs in five inning of a 9-3 win against Detroit. "And I feel good about it. I continue to get more comfortable and continue to get stronger." Baseball's only active 300-game winner is trying to end his career on a positive note, after going ..."
March 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine didn't blow away the young Braves he faced in Monday's five-inning intrasquad game, but the veteran left-hander accomplished what he set out to do. Working in game conditions for the first time since August, he allowed one run and two hits with two strikeouts in two innings at Champion Stadium, on an off day in the Braves' Grapefruit League schedule. Glavine, who turns 43 next week, certainly wouldn't have lit up radar guns with his fastball Monday, but manager Bobby Cox was pleased with his progress since he threw batting practice last week. "Much more impressed by him today," he said after Glavine threw 26 strikes in 38 pitches against the likes of prospects Gorkys Hernandez ..."
March 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Veteran lefty Tom Glavine is scheduled to make his unofficial spring debut with two innings in a 10 a.m. simulated game Monday. Glavine, 42, is coming back from elbow and shoulder surgeries and reported to camp this month after completing his throwing program at home in Atlanta. Jo-Jo Reyes will be the opposing pitcher for the simulated game. Hitters will include top prospects Jordan Schafer, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman. In two previous Monday simulated games, Heyward hit home runs against Jair Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami."
February 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Veteran left-hander Tom Glavine will be back with the Braves after agreeing to terms on a one-year contract that includes a $1 million base salary and up to $3.5 million in incentives, according to two people familiar with the situation. The deal is set to be completed Friday. Glavine, who turns 43 next month, agreed to defer most of the bonus money in order to leave some room in the Braves' payroll should they decide to pursue another outfielder or look to fill another need later in the season. Baseball's only active 300-game winner will be penciled in the fifth spot in a deep starting rotation that includes right-handers Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Kenshin Kawakami and Jair Jurrjens. ..."
February 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine is expected to re-sign with the Braves soon, adding the final piece to what could be one of the National League's deepest starting rotations. The one-year contract the veteran left-hander is close to completing would likely include a $1 million salary and bonuses that could push the total to a maximum of between $4 million and $5 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. Glavine, 42, would receive a $1 million bonus for making the opening day roster and could earn two other bonuses for staying on the active roster for specific lengths. The bonus money would be deferred. The two-time former Cy Young Award winner was never on the disabled list until 2008, when ..."
February 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While the Braves await a decision from free agent Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones wondered for a moment Monday if the outfielder had already signed and reported. Jones arrived at the Braves clubhouse to find a Seattle Mariners equipment bag at the empty locker next to his. Griffey played 11 seasons for Seattle, where he was the 1997 American League MVP. Turned out the bag belonged to utility player Greg Norton, who was with Seattle before being traded to Atlanta. Jones saw the bag and instinctively looked toward both ends of the clubhouse for Griffey, who has talked a few times with Jones in the past week about playing for the Braves. Jones insisted his heart didn't skip a beat when he saw ..."
February 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine met with Braves general manager Frank Wren on Wednesday in an attempt, he said, to get creative in working out a one-year contract. Glavine wants an incentive-laden deal that is worth more than the Braves' original offer to him, one based largely on proving he's healthy. Glavine also said he's willing to defer salary to work within the constraints of the Braves' 2009 payroll. "I'm willing to come back for a discount, and I'm willing to earn most of that discount," Glavine said. "I've tried to be creative in eliminating as much risk for them as I can." Glavine, who turns 43 in March, is coming off August surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow and wear-and-tear ..."
February 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine is meeting with Braves general manager Frank Wren today to discuss where things stand in their contract negotiations, Glavine confirmed. Glavine, who is coming off shoulder and elbow surgery, is trying to make a comeback with the one team he's made it clear he'd prefer to come back with - the Braves. But Glavine was underwhelmed by the Braves' initial offer. Last week, the team offered Glavine a one-year deal worth about $1 million and up to $3 million with incentives based on time spent on the roster. The Braves are still searching for an outfielder - possibly the Yankees' Nick Swisher via trade - and are believed to have only about $7 million left to spend."
January 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
This is not a John Smoltz situation. How do we know that? Because Tom Glavine and Frank Wren had breakfast together Wednesday morning in Alpharetta. "I had oatmeal," Glavine said. Wren? "He had oatmeal, too. Hey, gotta get ready for spring training." Who paid? "He did. Business expense." This isn't six years ago, when the Braves and Glavine debated about who lied, or who didn't return whose messages, or who was the bigger, hard-headed, money-grubbing weasel. This isn't three weeks ago, when Wren and Smoltz were closer to going at each other with blow torches than bonding over a high-fiber breakfast. Glavine wants to pitch. Medical reports indicate he can pitch. The Braves appear open to ..."
January 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Judging from his mood, lefthander Tom Glavine's comeback is going quite well. Asked how things went today in his second throwing session on a mound since August elbow and shoulder surgeries, Glavine joked, "My arm fell off - it disconnected from my body." Then, the 42-year-old turned serious and said he's becoming convinced that he'll pitch in 2009, and could be ready when the season begins. Glavine threw 30 pain-free pitches off a mound in his basement this morning, under the supervision of Braves physical therapist Lloyd VanPamelen. Glavine was asked if he felt better now about his chances of resuming his career than he did before he began his offseason rehab and throwing program. "I ..."
January 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine was originally scheduled to throw from the mound on Monday for the first time since elbow and shoulder surgery last August. He decided to push that back to Friday but said it was not because there has been any kind of setback. "I decided that I wanted to do two more times of long toss before I get on the mound," Glavine said Monday. "Not for any other reason other than just trying to be conservative with this thing. No setbacks, no bump in the road, just conservatively speaking, it's the smart thing to do. I'm going to throw off the mound Friday." Glavine, 42, is attempting a comeback from the first arm surgery of his career. He has said he will let his arm dictate whether he ..."
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz's attempt to return to the Braves is over now that he's on his way to Boston, but Tom Glavine's is just getting going. Glavine expects to throw off a bullpen mound Monday for the first time since he had surgery on his left elbow and shoulder in August. He has no timetable yet for a possible return, or a contract with the Braves, but he's taking each step in his recovery as it comes, and so far, so good. Glavine, 42, has been working on his arm strength by throwing up to 120 feet off of flat ground, and he has done it with no pain. The bigger test will come when pitching off the mound. "I'm just in the mind-set that I'm going to take it a step at a time and a session at a time, ..."
August 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While Braves veteran Tom Glavine was under anesthesia for elbow surgery Thursday, Dr. James Andrews also did a relatively minor shoulder surgery on his pitching arm. That was the only surprising news out of Birmingham, where the 42-year-old left-hander went in for elbow surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon. Well, surprising for everyone except Glavine, Andrews and Braves officials. Turns out, Glavine and the Braves knew before Thursday that he would also have the arthroscopic procedure to "clean up" the labrum in his shoulder, although neither he nor the team announced it until after the operations were completed. Glavine had discomfort in his shoulder during the season and asked Andrews ..."
August 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine got the news he was looking for Wednesday. He needs surgery to repair the torn flexor tendon in his elbow, but he does not need ligament transplant surgery. That means with a four-to-five month rehabilitation, he'll at least have a chance to return to pitch next season, if the Braves are open to the idea. "Happy about the diagnosis," Tom Glavine said in a text message to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Still not sure about next year but this will give me a chance." Glavine has said he would not pitch anywhere other than Atlanta next season. The 42-year-old Glavine had planned to retire if he was told he needed ligament transplant surgery, which has a minimum of 12 months' ..."
August 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine’s comeback bid took an abrupt turn when the 42-year-old Braves left-hander went back on the disabled list Friday with recurring elbow pain, casting doubt on his ability to pitch again this season or beyond. “We don’t know,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said, when asked about the outlook for this season. “It’s a setback, at this point. We don’t know enough at this point [to say more].” The DL move came less than 24 hours after he was activated from the DL to start Thursday night against the Cubs. He lasted four innings and was charged with seven runs, seven hits and four walks in the loss. Until he’s examined by the team orthopedist, and probably by specialist Dr. James ..."
August 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tom Glavine's return is a go. The left-hander pitched five solid innings in an injury-rehab start for Class AA Mississippi on Saturday and is scheduled to start for the Braves on Thursday against Chicago. Glavine, 42, was charged with four hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk with one strikeout in the game against Jacksonville, and retired the last six batters he faced. His return will come against the last team he faced, the Cubs. Glavine lasted three innings in a June 10 start at Wrigley Field and left with elbow soreness after allowing six hits, four runs and four walks."