"It was Sunday morning, a day after Chipper Jones beat Detroit with a three-run homer on a Joel Zumaya 100-mph fastball. The Braves third baseman and closer Billy Wagner were in the clubhouse, talking about homers and triple-digit heaters.

Two 38-year-old graybeards, swapping "war" stories like Hooper and Quint in the movie Jaws, just without blood and scars.

"If it's straight enough, you can time a jet plane," Jones said, referring to a baseball axiom about straight fastballs being hittable no matter the velocity.

"If it's got a little sink to it, it's a little tougher," Jones said, smiling. "Ain't that right, Wags?"

Wagner was at his locker a few feet away.

"Believe it," Wagner said. "The harder you throw it, the farther it goes."

Wagner can tell a story about as well as anyone in baseball, with passion and details.

Someone asked if Wagner ever gave up a homer on a 100-mph fastball."