The Associated Press

When Tom Glavine looks at the standings, he sees his old team headed for its 12th straight postseason berth and the team he considered signing with locked in a taut wild-card race.

Meanwhile, the team he did join last winter, the New York Mets, is playing out its string, buried in last place in the National League East.

Glavine says he has no regrets about leaving Atlanta or not signing with the Phillies. He believes the Mets, with the pieces they have in place and the wherewithal they will have to sign free agents this winter, could make a quick turnaround in 2004.

One of the potential free agents the Mets are expected to pursue is Philadelphia pitcher Kevin Millwood, and Glavine is readying a recruiting pitch for his old Atlanta teammate.

"Absolutely," Glavine said. "I'll give it my best shot. We're all trying to get better."

Glavine and Millwood are intertwined in this Phillies season. If the Phils had signed Glavine in December, they wouldn't have had the money to take Millwood when the Braves put him on the trading block for financial reasons.

So, while Glavine's decision to go to New York was initially met with disappointment in Philadelphia, few have complained since. Millwood is 14-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 30 starts for the Phils. Glavine is 9-12 with a 4.50 ERA in 28 starts. Glavine hasn't had a sub-.500 season since 1990, when he was 10-12 for the Braves.

"I think I'm still the same pitcher," Glavine said. "I just haven't gotten the same results. Some of that is a product of the team. Some is a product of me. I can't say I've been mistake-free."

MARLINS: Ivan Rodriguez likes what he sees in the Marlins and said he wants to stay with the team.

The catcher, who lives in Miami, signed a one-year $10 million contract in January.

"I like the organization, I like the team. It's my home," Rodriguez said in San Juan, where his team is playing a three-game series against the Montreal Expos.

"What I like the most is the camaraderie in the clubhouse," he added.

" Rodriguez said he would like to be around when the team's young pitching staff starts to fully develop.

"Our five starters are quality pitchers. Our team, if it's not complete, it's really close," Rodriguez said.

DODGERS: Eric Gagne earned his 100th save Friday to become the fastest closer to reach the century mark. Gagne reached 100 saves in 104 opportunities; Atlanta's John Smoltz did it in 107.