23-year old righty starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens has been outstanding this season for the Braves. He has started 33 games this season for the Braves and he is 14-10 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The Tigers will likely never answer the phone ever again when the Braves are calling. The Braves only gave up the washed up Edgar Renteria to get Jurrjens from the Tigers. The Tigers have also likely never forgot when the Braves traded Doyle Alexander to them for a young kid named John Smoltz. Jurrjens has now started 64 games in his career for the Braves and he is 27-20 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. What a steal this kid has been and he is a part of a very bright future for the Braves.

23-year old righty starting pitcher Tommy Hanson came into this season as the best prospect in the Braves’ system according to Baseball America. He started the year in AAA and he earned his call up to the Braves in only 11 starts there in which he was 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. The Braves had no choice but to call up Hanson as they needed help in the starting rotation. He has started 19 games so far for the Braves and he is 10-4 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. In 113 2/3 innings for the Braves this season Hanson has only allowed 96 hits while whiffing 100 batters. The only chink in his armor so far in the majors is his control as he has walked 43 batters this year. That’s nitpicking though as Hanson has the look of a #1 pitcher in a starting rotation at the major league level.

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox signed a one-year extension with the Braves for the 2010 season.  Cox has announced that he will then retire from managing after the 2010 season and then will become a consultant and adviser for the Braves for five years.  Cox is currently the 4th winningest manger in major league history.  He is behind current St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa, then John McGraw, and then the winningest manager of all-time Connie Mack.

Matt Diaz was hurt most of last season and it showed in his stat line. But, he’s back healthy this season and he’s ripping the baseball for the Braves. Diaz has played in 117 games for the Braves this season and he is 110 for 343 (.321 avg, .896 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 12 homers, 53 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Braves should really consider letting Diaz play full time next season instead of platooning him.

37-year old switch hitting 3B Chipper Jones is considering retirement after a extended slump. He has played in 131 games this season for the Braves and he is 121 for 447 (.271 avg, .832 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 17 homers, 68 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Jones has been the heart and soul of the Braves since he got to Atlanta and it would be a huge loss for them if he calls it quits. Jones has played in 2,154 games for the Braves and he is 2,398 for 7,784 (.308 avg, .949 OPS) with 1,450 runs scored, 425 homers, 1,442 RBIs and 142 stolen bases.