MLB photos: Braves 2009 season

Atlanta Braves

MLB photos: Braves 2009 season

Highlights and lowlights of the Braves' 2009 season.

Braves manager Bobby Cox, who in June earned his 2,000th victory with the team, announced in September that 2010 will be his final season. Cox was in his 28th season as a big-league skipper and his 24th year with the Braves.

Braves top prospect Jordan Schafer homered in his major league debut with Atlanta and then fizzled. The 22-year-old center fielder hit just .204 and struck out 63 times in the first 50 games and was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. Schafer ended the season on the disabled list after having wrist surgery.

Braves catcher Brian McCann went on the disabled list with vision troubles in April after a 1-for-20 slump. After attempting several solutions, McCann tried new sports goggles -- and later contacts -- to improve his chances at the plate. And his stats suffered only sightly. He hit .279 with 21 homers and 92 RBI.

Shortstop Yunel Escobar's hussle (or lack thereof) was a side note to what turned into a productive season. He was benched in mid-June after two fielding miscues -- failing to turn a double play and botching a rundown. Manager Bobby Cox pulled Escobar out of a game again after he failed to run out a grounder. He improved in nearly every statistical category, hitting .299 with 14 homers and 76 RBI -- and even earned an NL Player of the Week.

In July, the Braves inducted Greg Maddux into the team's hall of fame and retired his No. 31 jersey. Maddux pitched 11 seasons in Atlanta and is eighth on baseball's career wins list with 355.

The Braves acquired Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade to solidify its starting rotation. He finished 2009 on a high note with a 1.42 ERA and 4-1 record in his last five starts. It was his 10th-straight season with 10 or more wins. He finished the season with 238 strikeouts, more than any other Brave.

Tim Hudson returned to the Braves rotation in early September, one year after having elbow ligament surgery. Hudson went 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA over seven starts.

This was not one of Chipper Jones' best years. Jones struggled at the plate, finishing with a batting average below .300 (.264) for the first time since 2005. His 18 homers on the year were the fewest of his career. The 37-year-old third baseman agreed to a 3-year contract extension to start the year.

Tom Glavine returned to Atlanta last season hoping to finish his career with the Braves ... but not this way. The 43-year-old Glavine, who was coming back from shoulder and elbow surgery, was cut in early June after completing his minor league rehab. Glavine did not catch on with another club, he's fourth all-time in career wins (305) for a left-hander.

Braves rookie Tommy Hanson made his major league debut on June 7 and didn't suffer his first defeat until July 26. He set an Atlanta rookie record with a career-high 11 strikeouts in late July. He finished the year 11-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 107 strikeouts.

After five seasons with his hometown team, the Braves shipped right fielder Jeff Francoeur to N.L. East rival New York for outfielder Ryan Church -- one of several moves that re-created the Braves outfield. (The Braves also acquired center fielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates.) Since his departure to the Big Apple Francoeur has batted .307, scored and batted in more than 30 runs, reduced his rate of strikeouts, and hit into an unassisted triple play.

In the final week of the season, reliever Peter Moylan set a franchise record, making his 85th appearance of the season. Since the All-Star break Since blowing a save July 12 against the Rockies, Moylan has allowed just two earned runs in 36 appearances for an ERA under 1.

In what perhaps will be the Braves most memorable (and forgettable) moment of the season, outfielder Matt Diaz was picked off at third base to end the game and with it the Braves' hopes of advancing to the postseason against the Marlins with four games left in the season.

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Braves manager Bobby Cox, who in June earned his 2,000th victory with the team, announced in September that 2010 will be his final season. Cox was in his 28th season as a big-league skipper and his 24th year with the Braves.

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