No Sophomore Slump From Him?

JAIR JURRJENS
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 160 lbs.
2009 Age: 23

Acquired from the Detroit Tigers before the 2008 season, Jurrjens was immediately plugged into the rotation and showed that he had excellent command. He works with a four-seam fastball, a two-seam, change-up and slurve. Jurrjens started out strong in the first half, going 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA, but seemed to regress in the second half, going 4-6 with a 4.46 ERA. It may have had something to do with this being his first full season (188 1/3 IP a career high) and being a little unlucky (.307 BABIP, .280 league average). It's essential to the Braves rotation that Jurrjens becomes a vital cog.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE THE ROAD: Jurrjens had eight home starts in the second half where he allowed four runs or more (2-4).

NO JUNE SWOON: In four games, Jurrjens was 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA. He walked just 7 batters and allowed just eight runs, five earned.

MAYBE HE STILL LIKES THE AL?: In three interleague games last season, Jurrjens had a 0.00 ERA, but went 1-0. The reason? He allowed five unearned runs.

PART THREE OF FUN WITH SMALL SAMPLE SIZES: Jurrjens seemed to work best with Corky Miller, if that's possible. In the three games that Jurrjens pitched with Miller behind the plate,

My Outlook: Jurrjens has to go out and practically prove himself all over again. He'll succeed at that and then some. Expect him to pitch like a #2 starter for most of the year and act like an ace on several occasions.