Three wins. Six losses. An earned-run average of 5.34.

Hardly impressive numbers.

But for Kevin McGlinchy, the 1997 season has been about more than statistics. He didn't understand that in June, when he was struggling. But he does now.

"I learned this year that numbers aren't everything," McGlinchy said last week at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. "It's all about progress and learning. I'm still a pup in this game.''

A big pup. With big potential.

McGlinchy, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander, was rated the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization after striking out 82 batters and walking only 12 in his first professional season in 1996. But that was in rookie-league ball.

McGlinchy came to the Bulls in the Class A Advanced Carolina League at the age of 19, and the Braves expected him to take some lumps.

He did. But he weathered the storm, and in the second half of the season, McGlinchy has come on strong.

"There was some debate in spring training [about where to send McGlinchy]," Bulls pitching coach Bill Slack said. "He was one of those guys they figured would be further ahead than a lot of guys in [low Class A] Macon.

"Atlanta put him here because he's a little tougher than some kids down there. They thought he could take a beating and come back. He's done that."

McGlinchy was 2-6 with a 6.78 ERA in early July. But in his next six starts, he allowed only eight runs with a 1.95 ERA over that stretch. He had his best outing of the season on Aug. 9, pitching eight shutout innings.

"It was a big relief for me, believe me," he said of the outing. "I had confidence in myself that I could turn it around in the second half [of the season]. I'm pretty happy with the way it's going now.

"The first half was a little shaky. I couldn't find my game; I just went out there and was pitching defensively.

"Now, I've learned the league, learned how to pitch guys: Go inside when it's time to go inside, throw certain pitches on certain counts."

McGlinchy gave up five runs in 5 innings on Thursday, but all five runs came in one inning, including Nate Dishington's grand slam. McGlinchy got yet another no-decision.

"Six of his last seven games [before Thursday], he has been ahead and we have taken him out," Slack said. "Then we look up and he's behind. That's why he doesn't have that many decisions. He's 3-6 right now but could easily be 8-6 or something like that.

"He's been pitching well the last month and a half. ... I think he's done exceptionally well for a guy who started the season at 19."

The bumps and bruises were tough, McGlinchy said, but worthwhile.

"The guys in this league are obviously going to hit a fastball down the middle, no matter how hard you throw it," said McGlinchy, whose fastball tops out at about 95 mph but more often has been clocked in the low 90s this year. "It's all about location and stuff. If you have good location and good stuff, you are going to win in this game. It's not about striking out everybody. It's been a learning process, and I think it will help me out in future years.

"They are looking for improvement, and I think I have shown that to them so far."

Judging from recent starts, there is no doubt about it.