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Atlanta Braves fans have quickly embraced Jair Jurrjens by forming a cheering section. Jurrjens Surgeons are kind of like Grady’s Ladies only they are dudes in scrubs.
New Fan Club Recognizes Jair Jurrjens’ Surgical Nature - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog
I plan on breaking down JJ’s start using pitch f/x data, but that will take me a day or two or three. In the meantime, here are some opinions for Jurrjens 5 inning, 2 run effort:
That’s More Like It - Talking Chop
I was most impressed with starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens — he really put on a show tonight. He lost it a little in the sixth, but his first five innings were brilliant. If he can stretch that solid work for another inning or two and repeat that for 60 to 70 percent of his starts then we will be in for a real treat watching him this year. It’s great seeing the kid get the Braves their first win this year.
Braves hammer Bucs, 10-2 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
“The changeup was invisible,” first baseman Adam LaRoche said. “I didn’t get a good pitch to drive off him all night. He was on the black, he was down in the zone. He was tough until he got a little tired in the sixth.”
Hampton ready; I’m banged up | Braves
Pirates hitters were very impressed with rookie Jair Jurrjens, particularly with his changeup, overall command and mound presence.A Pittsburgh writer told me that a couple of players said that changeup looked exactly like his fastball coming out of Jurrjens’ hand, and that they had no idea how to hit it.
It wasn’t a big formal announcement, but it appears that Jair Jurrjens has made the Braves roster and locked up a spot in the rotation. Cox was talking about different scenarios and said:
The Braves would open with Tim Hudson pitching opening night Sunday at D.C., then Glavine on Monday at Turner Field. After the Tuesday off day, Cox said either Mike Hampton or Jair Jurrjens could pitch Game 3, with the other going, obviously, the next day. He hasn’t decided whether to split up the lefties with Smoltz out of the rotation.
With Smoltz in the rotation, Cox said he would have split up Glavine and Hampton. He didn’t give specifics, but I think it would have gone Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, Jurrjens, Hampton.
Oh, yes, without announcing Jurrjens was in the rotation, Cox did announce it by saying Jurrjens could go in the third slot, or Hampton could. You have to read between the lines, put 2 and 2 together, etc, a lot on this beat. Not that anybody expected Jurrjens wouldn’t be in the rotation, which has seemed like a done deal since that game March 5 right here in Winter Haven, when he pitched three perfect innings against the Tribe in his second Grapefruit League start.
Jurrjens had a solid spring, so this doesn’t come as a surprise. But it’s great news regardless. Best of luck to Jair this summer from Tigers land.
Jair Jurrjens turned in another sterling outing. He’s certainly making a compelling case for the 5th starter spot.
In today’s effort Jurrjens went four innings and allowed only a walk and two hits. Like his previous outing, Jurrjens was particularly efficient making it through 12 outs only only 39 pitches.
Bobby Cox once again complimented Jurrjens poise and intelligence on the mound. At this point a blip in his health is probably the only thing to keep him out of the rotation.
The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Door's a-Jair for rotation spot
Jair Jurrjens pitched 3 perfect innings in his second Grapefruit League start. What’s probably most impressive is that he picked up 9 outs on only 25 pitches.
Bobby Cox was quite impressed:
“He’s got great pitches, with outstanding maturity on the mound — and control,” Cox said, emphasizing that final word.
Jair Jurrjens still has a battle ahead of him for the last spot in the rotation. Chuck James is still in the mix in Jo-Jo Reyes is coming off of an outing that Bobby Cox was very impressed with.
Jair Jurrjens made his Braves debut on Friday. He allowed a run on a couple of hits and a walk in his two innings or work. Jurrjens was most frustrated with a hanging slider to Andy LaRoche that resulted in a double.
Still, manager Bobby Cox was impressed saying that Jurrjens was as advertised (I think that’s a good thing).
Jair Jurrjens is set to make his mound debut with the Braves on Friday. Jurrjens will start in the Grapefruit League home opener against the Dodgers.
