After 20 years spent playing at Turner Field, the Atlanta Braves moved into SunTrust Park this season. Their sprawling new stadium cost in excess of $1.1 billion to build and is roughly one hour from the Braves’ previous home.
Generally speaking, 20 years spent at a stadium is hardly uncommon. That, coupled with SunTrust Park being in the suburbs, made for a surprising change when the Braves announced their intentions to relocate.
They nonetheless drew a capacity-plus crowd on Opening Day this season and have averaged over 30,000 in attendance. SunTrust Park has a 41,149-seat capacity.
Despite the stadium not yet being a year old, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts voiced his displeasure with the playing surface, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“This infield – it’s a tough infield to play, let’s put it that way,” Roberts said. “It’s too hard on the bottom and then there’s just kind of sand on top of it. It’s very unpredictable. … You’re just kind of a hockey goalie out there playing the infield. It’s just hard to play big-league baseball like that.”
Roberts comments came on the same night the Dodgers failed to turn a potential double play in the fifth inning that may have prevented the Braves from tying the game. A groundball to Corey Seager kicked up at the last minute, leaving him with only a play at first base.
Freddie Freeman lined an RBI single into center field to pull the Braves even, and they went on for a 5-3 victory. The Dodgers had multiple streaks snapped as a result of the loss.
Roberts and Yasmani Grandal cited issues with the infield at Turner Field last season and at the time, Braves players were said to be considering contacting the players’ union in effort to influence the club to make improvements.
The Dodgers and Braves concluded their three-game series Wednesday night and won’t meet again until next season.
