News
Vazquez, Jurrjens could garner Cy attention
Despite low run support, pair could finish in top five in NL voting
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
11/18/09 7:38 PM EST
ATLANTA -- Jair Jurrjens and Javier Vazquez know that they'll have to wait at least one more year before capturing the National League Cy Young Award. But these two Braves hurlers could both figure prominently when this year's balloting results are released on Thursday afternoon.
While proving to be two of the NL's top pitchers this year, Jurrjens and Vazquez have created reason to wonder if the Braves could have two pitchers finish among the top five in the Cy Young balloting for the first time since Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux ranked second and third, respectively, in 2000.
When the Braves acquired Vazquez in early December last year, the general consensus was that general manager Frank Wren had at least started his rotation-reconstruction process in a positive manner. But while going 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA this year, the 33-year-old right-hander certainly proved to be more than just a valuable piece to the equation.
Among all NL pitchers, Vazquez ranked second in strikeouts (238), strikeouts-per-walk ratio (5.87) and complete games (three); third in WHIP (1.03); fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.77); fifth in batting average allowed (.226); and sixth in ERA (2.87).
Along with serving as a strong mound presence, Vazquez proved to be a valuable clubhouse presence. He helped improve shortstop Yunel Escobar's attitude and served as a dependable mentor to Jurrjens, who proved successful in his attempt to avoid a sophomore slump.
Like Vazquez, Jurrjens saw his win total affected by the offensive struggles the Braves encountered during the early portion of the season. Still the 23-year-old right-hander managed to go 14-10 and post the NL's third-best ERA with a 2.60 mark.
Jurrjens, who went 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA in his final 10 starts, allowed two earned runs or less in 26 of his 34 starts. His 25 quality starts matched St. Louis' Adam Wainwright for the second most in the NL. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who joins Wainwright as a favorite for this year's award, led the Senior Circuit with 26 quality starts.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
