The NLCS is set

And in dramatic fashion, too. As I'm sure most of you know by now, the Astros and Braves played an absolute classic 18 inning marathon today which saw the Astros coming back from a 6-1 deficit in the bottom of the 8th with a Berkman grand slam and then a bottom of the 9th, two out homer by Brad Ausmus. Then maybe the greatest bullpen showing in playoff baseball history took place (actually, it was already in progress as starting in the 5th when the Houston pen came in to relieve Backe and pitching an amazing 13 and 2/3rds giving up only one run) with matching zeros being tossed up left and right from the 10th inning through the top of the 18th. The highlight was Roger Clemens, who's been hurt and getting hit by everyone including the Pirates, pitching three scoreless, one hit innings on only two days rest (and looking he had as many more in him as it was going to take). The hero? Well, besides Minute Made Park (which turned a Berkman fly-out into a grandslam and may have done the same with Chris Burke's game winner in the 18th), it's the rookie Chris Burke, of course. Clemens was amazing, but Chris Burke has officially become the answer to a trivia question. The goat was NOT Joey Devine (who gave up the walk off) as certain media outlets are saying, but instead Kyle Farnsworth. Yeah, it seems like it was forever ago, but without his meltdown the extra innings are not necessary at all.

Anyways, they're on to an NLCS rematch with the Cards. I think I've gotta give the early upper hand to the Astros. Why? Pettite, Clemens, and Oswalt, of course. They may be the chic pick right now, but you just can't ignore aces like that this late in the year. And does anyone really believe Clemens is even human at this point? It should be a great series between two teams that we got to see beat our heads in all year.

Of course the best part of it all is seeing the Braves lose in heartbreaking fashion. Maybe it's petty to still be holding the '91 and '92 NLCS (especially '92, ugghh, the worst part about this is that this game sparked a debate about the greatest non-series post season game ever and of course the "Sid Bream Game" came up, ugggh I think I'm getting sick, man am I glad the Braves lost) against them, especially since Smoltz is the only player left from those teams (I think, don't quote me on that) but I don't think so.