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Atlanta Braves has better gas up the buses this Spring

By Alan Carpenter

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Leon Batchelor, a Greyhound coach driver from Philadelphia is reflected in the first Greyhound coach to operate in the UK on August 19, 2009 in London, England. The iconic North American inter-city bus company is beginning services in the UK operating from London to Portsmouth and Southampton. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Leon Batchelor, a Greyhound coach driver from Philadelphia is reflected in the first Greyhound coach to operate in the UK on August 19, 2009 in London, England. The iconic North American inter-city bus company is beginning services in the UK operating from London to Portsmouth and Southampton. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) /
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We’ve talked about the travel time requirements for the Braves during Spring Training… here’s the details for 2018

Mercifully, this is that last time that the Atlanta Braves will be wintering in the fantasy land of Walt Disney World.  In 1997, this didn’t really seem to be a terrible idea, but in the years since, most teams have fled for the coasts, leaving Atlanta – and Detroit – the only ‘inland’ teams remaining in the Grapefruit League.

But Detroit doesn’t actually have it that bad.  Located at Joker Marchant stadium in Lakeland, Florida, they can get to the West coast of Florida in about an hour, which provides access to the Phillies, Yankees, Orioles, Pirates, and Blue Jays.

Going the other direction?  Other than the Braves (36 miles), that’s a bit tougher for the Tigers.

It was easier for them – and Atlanta – when the Astros were in Kissimmee/St. Cloud’s Osceola County Stadium (now the home of the Braves’ Florida Fire Frogs).  At that time, there was also usually a tenant at Viera (next to Melbourne) along I-95.  The Marlins were there once, and the Nationals were to most recent occupant of that now-vacated facility.

However, it was last year that the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches opened down in West Palm… the new home of both the Nationals and Astros.  That was the last straw… the Braves needed to move.

But here in 2018, we’ve got one last hurrah at Disney’s Champion Stadium, so here are the 13 road trips that the Braves will have to make (curiously front-loaded with 3 consecutive road games – and 5 of the first 8 – to launch Spring season):

More from Tomahawk Take

METS – PORT ST. LUCIE.  119 miles (Feb 23)

ASTROS – WEST PALM BEACH.  160 miles (Feb 24)

NATIONALS – WEST PALM BEACH.  160 miles* (Feb 25)

TIGERS – LAKELAND.  36 miles (Mar 1)

YANKEES – TAMPA.  73 miles (Mar 2)

BLUE JAYS – DUNEDIN.  92 miles (Mar 6)

PIRATES – BRADENTON.  104 miles (Mar 10)

TIGERS – LAKELAND.  36 miles (Mar 11)

PIRATES – BRADENTON.  104 miles (Mar 16)

PHILLIES – CLEARWATER.  87 miles (Mar 17)

ASTROS – WEST PALM BEACH.  160 miles (Mar 18)

CARDINALS – JUPITER.  151 miles (Mar 22)

TIGERS – LAKELAND.  36 miles (Mar 25)

* – There’s a chance for an ‘overnighter’ to eliminate one of these round trips since they occur on back-to-back days.

Assuming all of those trips are taken, though, here’s the tally:

  • Total mileage:  2,638 miles
  • 31 days for the road games
  • 44 hours on the road, assuming 60 miles per hour on average

Next year?  Add the Red Sox, Twins, Rays, and Orioles to the schedule.  The worst West Coast bus ride they will have is from North Port to Dunedin… 92 miles… and most of those will be an y hour away or less.

Much better.  Probably about half the travel time from this year.

Next: Ozzie wants to be a force

Bring extra power packs for your phones and video games, guys!

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