Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Building Bridges to Venice

Bridge to Braves stadium could be a double-decker

CARLA CALDWELL / ATL BUSINESS JOURNAL

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A bridge Cobb County plans to build from the Cobb Galleria area to the new Atlanta Braves stadium might be a double-decker bridge.

Cobb officials have discussed building a bridge that would span Interstate 285, but details have changed over time.  At one point, officials said the bridge would serve pedestrians and vehicles. Later, officials said only cars and shuttles would use the bridge.

County Chairman Tim Lee now says the bridge could be a double-decker bridge, reports the Marietta Daily Journal. Pedestrians could use a top level, while cars and shuttles could use the lower level, Lee said during a town hall meeting in Acworth.

[ Ed. note: lots of talk about this bridge crossing I-285.  At the moment, there’s still no concrete plan on paying for it… the figure ‘$9 million’ is being used, but you’d still have to think that’s a guess. ]

Ahhhhh – Venice, FL

UPDATE: Atlanta Braves look to Venice for spring training?

MICHAEL SCOTT DAVIDSON/DAVID HACKETT / SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

VENICE – A source close to the Atlanta Braves says the Major League baseball team is looking relocate its spring training base when its lease in Orlando expires and Venice is a possible destination.

œThe decision is still down the road, but Venice is a name that keeps coming up, said Mark Bowman, who has covered the Braves on its official website at MLB.com since 2001.  œVenice is certainly among the favorites.

Local government leaders, including Mayor John Holic, said they were unaware of any efforts to recruit the Braves.

The Braves have trained at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando since 1998. The lease ends in 2017. Atlanta is said to be concerned that only three other teams are close to the Braves’ site, and two of those the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals” are eying a move.

In Venice, the Braves would be much closer to other teams. Eight of the 15 team Major League clubs that train in Florida are on the West Coast, including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton.

Venice has one glaring omission, however. It has no stadium or any plans to build one.

[ Ed. note:  Just yesterday, I mentioned that the West Coast of Florida in a corridor from Ft. Myers to Bradenton would be my guess for the Braves’ new Spring home.  Venice, FL is actually right smack in the middle of that stretch of beach… except, as pointed out, that there is no place to play. The official population of the town is under 21,000, though that swells at this time of year.  This report aside, unless Sarasota County kicks in a significant amount of support, I can’t see Venice being able to set up a facility to lure the Braves. ]

Next: Yet Another Trade - But This One is Different

Braves embrace underdog role as they enter rebuilding mode

PAUL NEWBERRY / AP/NEWS-TRIBUNE.COM

ATLANTAThe Braves are trying to be optimistic after a flurry of offseason moves signaled the franchise going into rebuilding mode.

Three pitchers were at Turner Field on Monday for voluntary workouts leading up to spring training, all looking to put a positive spin on the dealing of sluggers Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis.

“We have a group of guys who kind of have a chip on their shoulder,” said left-handed pitcher Alex Wood, expected to be one of the few holdovers on this year’s roster. “Guys that want to come out and show what they can still do and show what they’re going to do for us younger guys down the road. It’s exciting to go in with a chip on your shoulder. I think it’s going to bring a lot of guys on this team together.”

Wood was joined by newcomers Shelby Miller and Michael Kohn on a cold, blustery day that hardly seemed indicative of spring training being just a few weeks away. The first workout for Atlanta’s pitchers and catchers is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Disney World complex near Orlando, Florida; the full squad gets started on Feb. 26.