Glavine's two-hitter gives him two to go

If Tom Glavine's season ended today, it could be described in one word: inconsistent. Yesterday, he two-hit the Reds over eight innings, giving up just one run in the win. Three starts ago against the Rockies he gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings. Six starts ago against the Yankees he gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings. Seven starts ago against the Tigers he gave up nine runs and 11 hits in 4.1 innings. In his other starts in that seven game span he gave up zero, one, and three runs.

However, it's highly unlikely that Glavine will be remembered this season for his inconsistency because he's just two wins away from the 300 mark. Only 22 pitchers have achieved that mark. Two still pitch: Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens.

He won't be the oldest. Phil Niekro had turned 46 when he accomplished the feat. And Glavine's far from the youngest. Kid Nichols reached the magic number at the start of the century when just 30 years old.

Glavine should easily pass both Early Wynn and Lefty Grove in the win standings. Their win total stopped at 300. When he passes Lefty Grove, Glavine will become the fourth winningest lefty in baseball history. If he can last another season or two, he has a shot at moving up the "lefty ladder." Immediately ahead of him are Eddie Plank with 326 wins and Steve Carlton with 329.

It's much more likely that he'll catch up to and then pass Mickey Welch, who pitched in the last century. Welch won 307.

For me, it's much more interesting to watch how many more wins Glavine manages to get than how many more homers Barry Bonds hits. In my book, any records Bonds breaks are just that: broken. They don't belong in any Major League record book.