3-0 Astros after 3, but Oswalt has thrown 62 pitches. Will the Astros' lack of middle relief come back to haunt them again?

I don't really have any preference for one team over the other, but I would love to see a close game that comes to a thrilling conclusion.

Braves, Astros.... Entertain Me!!

Russel Crowe (aka Maximus Meridius aka Gladiator): ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

DGriebeling: Yes, yes I am.

Go Braves. 3-2 now.

I'm enjoying the Braves radiocast on mlb.com (this might be pay-only). I forget the announcers names (might be Pete Van Wieren and Don Sutton). The crowd noise is coming through well. They're good at pointing out things like the defense knowing in advance how slow a runner Chavez is (before the close play at second on an Oswalt bunt), etc.

I love the ALERT line at the bottom on MLB Gameday:
"In Atlanta: Middle of the 7th -- Astros 9, Braves 2...In Atlanta: Middle of the 7th -- Astros 9, Braves 2...In Atlanta: Mike Gallo relieves Chad Qualis in the 7th -- Astros 9, Braves 2...In Atlanta: Mike Gallo relieves Chad Qualis in the 7th -- Astros 9, Braves 2..."

Imagine the ticker at CNN when there's only one story in the entire world.

I've flipped over to the Astros radio announcers. The Astros are up 9-2 in the bottom of the 7th, and the announcers are panicking about the first 2 runners getting on base, leaving the lefty in to pitch to CJones, etc. (But they're right in the sense that the game is not over yet.)

At 12-3, the Braves announcer concedes. "It is over folks." (8th inning)

You can't blame Atlanta fans for not showing up when a first round exit is the end result EVERY year. It must get boring.

You can't blame Atlanta fans for not showing up when a first round exit is the end result EVERY year. It must get boring.

So fans should only show up for teams that make perennial appearances in the World Series or LCS?

I think the point should be that it's not necessarily boring, but it must be frustrating. The run of division crowns isd a great thing that any fan would take, but at the same time, Braves fans can see that the Marlins have more championships in recent memory, and that must be incredibly frustrating. I can understand why fans would say "I'll support this team when they start winning when it really matters"

I think the point should be that it's not necessarily boring, but it must be frustrating.

I can only imagine. Oh, wait, I'm a Senators fan. Yeah, frustrating would be one way of putting it... (if the Sens didn't have Leaf fans buying up thousands of tickets, they'd have serious trouble selling out the first round, too)

You do have to feel happy for Astro fans, though. It was sad, with the demise of the Expos, that in their 36 years, they only had the one playoff appearance. Yet they, at least, had the one mini playoff victory. Before tonight, the Astros had even less playoff success, over a few more years.

This game was where I don't understand the closer mentality.

This is the last game of your season and your team is getting in trouble. Do you leave your hapless middle relievers in and let the game spiral out of control and thereby ending your season? Or do you bring Smoltz in to keep it a close game? Why did Smoltz not make an appearance when they needed him most? What are you saving him for?

I don't know, R Billie. Smoltz went two yesterday. He only had a few pitches to offer today. Either way, the Braves were going to have to trot out some duds in tonight's ballgame.

And they pitched accordingly.

Better to trot him out first in a desperation game. Why would you go to your lesser arms until you absolutely had to? That just didn't make sense to me. Yes he pitched 2 innings yesterday but this is the playoffs. He has to be available.

Was there a starter the Braves could have called on in that situation? I guess they really are shallow in front line rotation types this year. That's what happens when your best pitcher is in a one inning role.

Even if Smoltz keeps your game close by effectively pitching in the sixth and/or seventh, aren't you then essentially putting off your hapless middle relievers until the later innings?

I guess they really are shallow in front line rotation types this year. That's what happens when your best pitcher is in a one inning role.

I agree with this---in my mind, the Braves would be smart to move Smoltz back to the rotation.

Food for thought (make it chicken-fried steak with a side of chili and a Shiner Bock) ... this is the first time in major league history that a team based in Texas has won a post-season series.

Heretofore, the Astros and Rangers had a combined 10 post-season series, a series record of 0-10, and if my math is right a game record of 10-32. The only time a Texas team did NOT lose a psot-season series was in (ugh) 1994, when the 52-62 Rangers backed into a division "title" and post-season never quite Budded.

Hey Red Sox fans, from the "Careful What You Wish For" files, under "Maybe Better Off Not Saying Things Like That.'

"I'm not sure I can think of any scenario more enjoyable than making 55,000 people from New York shut up," [Curt Schilling] said Monday

Even if Smoltz keeps your game close by effectively pitching in the sixth and/or seventh, aren't you then essentially putting off your hapless middle relievers until the later innings?

True but there's definately an advantage to team morale in a do-or-die game to at least be in it when the later innings come around. It just makes no sense to me to let a 5 or 6 run inning spiral out of control in the 6th or 7th inning while your best pitcher rots in the pen. I'd rather get to the 8th and 9th inning and still have a chance to win the game. You're the home team so you're getting into sudden death territory at that point.

It's just really weird to me that their best pitcher by a long shot didn't throw a single pitch in a game they had to win. It's really kind of ridiculous.

Not to mention this is Game 5. I would have Nathaned Smoltz if I had to and use him for 3 or 4 innings. He is a former starter afterall.