Braves 5 Marlins 0

Sometimes all you need is John Smoltz.

That's something we used to say a lot, but incredibly it's been over 6 years (since April 30, 1999 to be exact) since Smoltzie pitched a shutout. Think about that -- back when Smoltz was 32 and at the top of his game one night against the Reds, you could have made a lot of money betting that he wouldn't pitch another shutout until age 38, but would have 154 saves in the meantime.

Tonight it took 123 pitches, but he never seemed to labor. Brave-O-Matic is almost prepared to turn off the old pitch-count meter on him -- but, with all the injuries, we're counting mightily on that right elbow, so forgive us for a bit of a pause at that number.

Speaking of bar bets, here's a real stumper: Who was the Braves' starting 3B during Smoltz's last shutout? Answer below:





Ozzie Guillen

Information courtesy of, and thank God for, Retrosheet. I could spend hours on that website. Go there now. Yes, you.