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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Boxes, Bridges, and Bonus Baseball

By Alan Carpenter |
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Sep 16, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) delivers a pitch to an Atlanta Braves batter in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

It would have been a tough contest under the best of circumstances, but unfortunately, most of the drama was drained from Turner Field early on when the Blue Jays put a 4-spot up on the board in the first inning.

In fact, though, two crazy things happened last night: (1) Shelby Miller couldn’t get out of the 4th inning – charged with 4 of 5 runs scored by then; and (2) Andrelton Simmons was charged with two errors.

That’s hardly a recipe for success.

Meanwhile, Toronto did what Toronto does:  hit the ball early, often, and hard:  5 doubles and a homer for a final tally of 9-1.

The Braves mustered just 7 hits (though took 4 walks), but only 2 doubles among them.  Thus not enough to consistently move enough runners around against starter David Price, who’s really having a nice season.

Shelby Miller, meanwhile, just needs to catch a break… and he can’t even get it with the team matchups, much less with anything resembling “run support.”

Well, one more with Toronto tonight, and then we’ll play with the NL East for a while.
   

Next: A Bridge too Far

Aerial view from http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/suntrust-park/renderings/development-renderings/. Courtesy of the Atlanta Braves.

Cobb’s Lee puts brakes on I-285 bridge to Braves stadium

CARLA CALDWELL / ATL BUSINESS JOURNAL

More from Tomahawk Take

Cobb County Chairman Tim Lee says he will recommend that county officials wait until early next year to move forward on a proposed multi-use bridge over Interstate-285 to serve the Braves’ SunTrust Park.

Lee still supports the project. And the county says there is a plan in place to pay for a pedestrian bridge estimated by Lee to cost $9 million – a combination of Federal Transit Administration funding and revenue from the county’s 2016 special purpose local option sales tax, reports Marietta Daily Journal.

The reason for the delay – Lee wants to make sure “partners” are on board, the paper says.

…

Lee said there is no way, at this point, to complete the bridge in time for the start of the 2017 season, so it makes sense to put the bridge aside until everyone has their information together.

There are concerns by Galleria businesses that SunTrust Park visitors would use too much parking used by business, hotel and convention guests.

And, if a planned shuttle for the Cumberland area uses the bridge, the upper deck would have to be reinforced to accommodate the weight, the MDJ reports.

[ Ed. note:  (more on this story at the link above)  The problem here is going to be twofold:  a lack of access in addition to a lack of parking.  As you may be able to see from the aerial rendering above, there is one lot east of the stadium, one tiny lot adjacent to the park on the NW (probably restricted access for stadium personnel), and a smattering of other lots for the mixed-use areas, though none of these will likely be built by 2017’2 Opening Day either.

Even so, the Galleria isn’t exactly overjoyed with the idea of Braves’ fans using its parking areas either.  The solution may have to come from one of two possibilities – and neither one has been mentioned in the press at all:

1. The Braves might have to consider becoming a “partner” in the I-285 bridge project to get it kick-started.  In theory, the funds should be available since the stadium is running under budget.

2. There is the land that the Braves purchased at the NE edge of the graphic above… 9+ acres that was bought as a contingency parking area.  Start the demolition of the building over there and let’s get some asphalt going… you’re gonna need it.  Dunno how well 10,000 vehicles will be able to get in there, but that’s what we’re looking at right now. ]

Next: Instructional League Roster Announced

Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Brave pitchers report to the field during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Instructional League Roster

STAFF REPORT / BASEBALL AMERICA.COM

The full roster can be seen at the BA.com link above, so I’ll hit the highlights.  In short, it reads a lot like an All-Star lineup from the Braves’ lower minor league system.  But it’s the Florida Instructional League, which will play for the next month or so – bonus baseball, if you will. 

Some names of particular note (while attempting not to disrespect the rest, I’ll add that this list isn’t even half the roster):

Next: Find Me a Hitter!

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