"Braves closer Billy Wagner has a checkered postseason past. The veteran of seven playoff series with the Astros, Mets and Red Sox has a 10.32 ERA in 13 appearances.

But something about having a short future keeps him from looking too far back.

Wagner, 39, announced months ago he was going to retire at the end of the season. This is his last chance to reach the World Series before he packs it in and goes home to his farm in Crozet, Va. to shoot hoops with his kids and raises alpacas.

Do-or-die has become part of his daily routine.

Wagner has been finishing games all season knowing if he blows it, the Braves might not make the postseason, and he and Bobby Cox can't quite enjoy the fishing trips they joke about taking together in retirement.

Wagner has taken great pride in handing the ball to Cox after every game he finishes.

"I'd like to hand the game ball for the World Series to Bobby," he said.

With all his added motivation this season, Wagner responded with 37 saves in 44 chances. He's 7-2 with a 1.43 ERA and a .159 opponents' batting average. He was the last man standing in Sunday's season-ending playoff clincher, having survived a rocky eighth inning to strike out all three batters in the ninth.

This figures to be a little more of the same.

"Well, that's what the playoffs are all about," the injured Chipper Jones said when asked about Wagner. "There's no tomorrow."

Jones hit a game-winning three-run home run off Wagner in Game 1 of the 2001 National League Division Series, which the Braves won 7-4 over the Astros. It's one of three home runs Wagner has allowed in the postseason. Another costly one came with the New York Mets in Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, when Wagner gave up a leadoff homer to the Cardinals' So Taguchi in the ninth inning with the score tied. Wagner took the loss after allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

But that was the only loss Wagner has been charged with in the postseason. He has converted three of four save opportunities, and the Astros came back and won his only blown save, in Game 2 of the 1998 NLDS against the Padres."