(NOT SHOWN DUE TO COPYRIGHT CLAIMS : NON-POLITICAL SONG FOR JAIR JURRJENS TO SING)
“Few athletes have suffered such a dramatic career U-turn as Jair Jurrjens,” writes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz of the Braves veteran starter currently struggling at their International League affiliate, Gwinnett. “If I’m not in their plans, I’ll move on,” Jurrjens tells Schultz. “But I’m not a Triple-A pitcher.” With a 5.56 ERA in 43.2 IP, he might be right. What’s the apartment situation like in Jackson, MS?
““I understand it’s a business, and they need to do what they need to do,” said Jurrjens, less than a year removed from being an All-Star. “But you have feelings, and it hurts when you feel like you’re not wanted somewhere.”
And that’s what it feels like?
“If I say no, I’m lying. When you’re doing good, everybody loves you. When you’re doing bad, everybody hates you.
“You hear stuff. When the Kris Medlen stuff happened, people around here, my teammates, were like, ‘Wow, they didn’t even think to call you back up?’ People were asking me, ‘Did they say anything to you?’ It just shows me what I mean to them. It doesn’t feel good, but that’s OK. It’s business.”
Jurrjens woke up ill Thursday. He spent much of the day passed out on a trainer’s table at the stadium, got up later only for an interview, then went home before the game.
The problem: “Everything,” he said. “Sinus, fever, stomach.”
He was still sick and looked pale Friday but decided to start anyway. Why?
“I felt committed,” he said.