A busy 24 hours for Braves roster moves

Note: this is kind of a follow up to yesterday's blog about Heyward. i was able to go to the Ted yesterday and get some reaction to everyone over KK to the pen and JJ to the rotation with Heyward to the DL and Diaz back from the DL.

Tuesday afternoon capped a very busy 24 hours for the Atlanta Braves in terms of personnel decisions the team and its manager faced with a potential all-star going onto the DL and another potential all-star ready to return. Braves manager Bobby Cox announced late Monday after the Braves shut out the Nationals that Jair Jurrjens would in fact pitch Wednesday in the series finale and Kenshin Kawakami would move to the bullpen while Kris Medlen would stay in the rotation. Tuesday before game two of the Braves/Nationals series, Cox addressed the media in the dugout, saying that it was a tough decision to send Kawakami to the pen. “It’s hard to take anybody out of the rotation.” Kawakami was coming off his first win of the season prior to being bumped out by the return of Jurrjens from injury. “I’m not sure Kawakami deserved to be taken out. He’s coming off a great start.” His last time out, Kawakami pitched seven innings against the Detroit Tigers, allowing just one run on two hits and lowering his ERA to 4.48. Jurrjens meanwhile was very sharp in several rehab starts in Class AAA-Gwinnett and looks to be back from a hamstring injury. Cox is excited about his young righty’s return. “Hopefully he’ll be like he was the last two seasons: sensational.”
Medlen said that he would go with what the team said would be best for the team. "I’ve gotten comfortable with the (starting) situation." Medlen has pitched well this season, starting nine games and compiling a 5-1 record with a 3.15 ERA.

The other move made Monday night and Tuesday afternoon was placing rookie rightfielder Jason Heyward on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 27. Heyward had an MRI done on his left thumb, revealing no fracture, break or torn ligaments so surgery will not be necessary. He was sporting a black cast on his left hand and forearm Tuesday. “Heyward really made us go,” offered Cox on the young outfielder that was near the top in the National League all-star voting. Heyward would be eligible for activation from the DL during the all-star break and likely wouldn’t play, even if voted in. “He’s gotta do what’s best for the team,” was Cox’s thought on whether he should risk playing in the all-star game, though he did jokingly concede, “maybe (the all-star game) would be a good tune-up.” Cox did not rule out Heyward possibly needing a few games in Rome to get back and ready to return to the lineup. Matt Diaz was activated from the disabled list to take Heyward’s spot on the active roster. The outfielder spent three games in Gwinnett (3-12, three RBI) after having surgery for his own thumb injury and has not seen action for Atlanta since early May. Cox hoped that Diaz would be healthy enough to contribute for Atlanta. In batting practice last night, Diaz seemed to be swinging without pain, even sending a few balls into the outfield seats at the tail-end of his BP session. Said Diaz of his chances of returning to the outfield, “I’ll have to work my way in any way I can.” Diaz struck out in his one at-bat last night as a pinch hitter in a Braves loss.