By PETER ABRAHAM
The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The New York Mets drew nearly a full house to old Fort Lauderdale Stadium Saturday. The stands were loaded with retirees, sun-worshippers and those curious to see what Tom Glavine looked like in something other than the uniform of the Atlanta Braves.

Glavine could have played it as just another meaningless spring training game. After 16 seasons and two Cy Young Awards, he has earned that right. But in a refreshing twist, he admitted to some anxiety.

"For the first time, hearing 'Pitching for the New York Mets' and hearing my name was a little strange," he said.

So was his pitching. In a performance sure to panic the talk shows and tabloids, Glavine gave up six hits and four runs in two innings against the Baltimore Orioles, taking the loss as the Mets fell, 7-6.

The left-hander didn't seem concerned. After strapping a bag of ice on his shoulder, Glavine signed autographs and chatted with fans through a chain-link fence outside the clubhouse. His wife Christine sat nearby in the shade, keeping an eye on 3-year-old Peyton while 2-year-old Mason munched on a banana.

Both of their sons were wearing Met caps and t-shirts. Even they have a new uniform. But their father is the one who has to deal with unaccustomed spring-training scrutiny after signing a three-year, $35 million deal in December. The 14 reporters who covered the game were there for only one reason.

"People are watching you to say 'What is the big deal with this guy? What does he do right? What does he do wrong?' I know that," Glavine said. "To a certain degree, I have to get used to that and not worry about trying to impress people."

The Mets had two games Saturday and tried to shield Glavine from any extraneous emotions by sending him to pitch against the Orioles instead of facing the Braves in Kissimmee.

Those good intentions produced poor results. Glavine gave up two hits in the first but escaped when Marco Scutaro started a slick double play. But Jay Gibbons started the second inning with a double before ex-Met John Valentin drew a four-pitch walk. B.J. Surhoff, Eli Whiteside and Gary Matthews followed with singles.

"This is why you have spring training," pitching coach Vern Ruhle said.

Most of Glavine's 37 pitches were fine, according to catcher Jason Phillips, and he felt good physically. He just tried too hard in his first game as a Met.

"I have new teammates and new people watching me. You kind of fight the urge to try and impress them," Glavine said. "I was fighting all of that stuff and trying to get people out.

"Some guys maybe wouldn't care. I do. I take a lot of pride in what I do and whenever I step on the field, I try and be as good as I possibly can, whether it's a World Series game or a spring training game. When you couple that with guys who haven't seen you pitch every day, there are expectations."

Glavine will pitch every five days over the next four weeks, a schedule that will prepare him to start on Opening Day at Shea Stadium against the Chicago Cubs on March 31.

"I'm trying to quietly go about my business and get comfortable," he said, knowing nothing about that process will be quiet given his status as the face of the new Mets.

"I get constant reminders I'm playing for a new team. Everywhere I've gone so far there is somebody (saying) 'Welcome to the Mets.' From the baseball side, it's become pretty normal for me but there's a lot of firsts along the way."

One of those came Saturday. Tom Glavine still wears No. 47, still throws that changeup and still knows games at Fort Lauderdale Stadium on March 1 are soon forgotten. They just won't forget as quickly in New York as they did in Atlanta.