--RHP Jair Jurrjens ended the season as the team leader in starts (31), wins (13) and strikeouts (139).
--RHP Jorge Campillo started Sept. 26 against the Astros even though he was pretty much pitched out because, with the Astros still technically alive in the wild-card race, manager Bobby Cox thought he should send his best available pitcher out there to protect the integrity of the game. Campillo was too fatigued to make a game out of it, and Cox thought better of the move the day after. --SS Yunel Escobar, who has been out with a sore right hamstring, wanted to play against the Astros in the final weekend of the season, but manager Bobby Cox estimated that Escobar was at only 75 or 80 percent strength. Had the Braves been battling for a playoff spot, that would have been one thing, but with no postseason to play for, Cox kept Escobar on the bench.
--LHP Mike Hampton especially wanted to start the final game of the season in Houston because it was "Brad Ausmus Day" there, and Hampton considers Ausmus one of the most influential catchers he has worked with in his career. But, no, he didn't intentionally groove that two-run homer in the first inning.
--OF Gregor Blanco and INF Ruben Gotay plan to play winter ball in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, respectively, because neither got that much playing time and want the opportunity to improve. RHP Jair Jurrjens got plenty of playing time -- he lead the staff in innings pitched at 188 1/3 -- and will not play winter ball.
BY THE NUMBERS: 72-90 -- The Braves' record this season, the first time the Braves have lost 90 games since 1990.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's been the surprise of the year on this team." -- Manager Bobby Cox, on RHP Jorge Campillo.
