Today is probably one of the worst days of Tom Glavine's career. The Mets completed their stunning crash and burn after the left-hander gave up seven first-inning runs, committed a costly error and hit Dontrelle Willis with a pitch with the bases loaded. Glavine departed after working one-third of an inning of New York's season-ending 8-1 loss to Florida. The only other time in his major league career that he didn't survive the first inning was a 1989 loss to the Cubs.

It's painful to witness Glavine, or any pitcher, have an outing like this when so much is on the line. What a horrible experience to take home for the winter, and in Glavine's case, you wonder how it will affect his decision-making as he debates retirement. Major leaguers are extremely competitive beings, and it's their nature to want to return to make amends. It's a long six-month grind just to remove the bitter taste of a costly season-ending loss, however, especially for a 41-year-old veteran of 21 big league seasons.

Glavine recently was quoted as saying he was having a lot of fun this season and was contemplating a 2008 return. Sunday's crushing loss may erase all thoughts of returning, or it may drive Glavine to come back and live out a better conclusion to a Hall of Fame career.