Atlanta Braves Clippings

Monday, June 29, 2015

Braves.com

Good Wood: Braves quiet Bucs in finale

By Mark Bowman and Tom Singer / MLB.com | June 28th, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- Left-hander Alex Wood quieted the Pirates into the eighth inning on Sunday as the Braves downed Pittsburgh, 2-1, to snap a five-game losing streak.

Nick Markakis' RBI single in the fifth and Jace Peterson's solo homer in the seventh were all the help Wood needed to snap a three-decision losing streak. Wood allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings, not issuing a walk while striking out eight. He allowed three runs or fewer for the 13th time in his 15 starts.

"We needed the win today, and everybody came to play today," Wood said. "It definitely feels good to get out of Pittsburgh with a [win]."

Andrew McCutchen, back in the Pirates' lineup the day after leaving in the first inning when hit on the left elbow by a Julio Teheran pitch, had one single in four at-bats.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Johnson preserves gem: After Neil Walker's one-out double in the eighth chased Wood, right-handed reliever Jim Johnson preserved the impressive start by quickly retiring Josh Harrison and Pedro Alvarez. Wood pitched around consecutive singles to begin the seventh and matched his season high with eight strikeouts. He concluded three of his first four strikeouts with his curveball, which proved quite effective during the early innings.

Locke makes early exit: Jeff Locke held the Braves hitless through three innings, worked out of trouble in the fourth, gave up one run in the fifth -- and was gone from a 1-0 game in the sixth. His pitch count was up to 94, yet it still seemed to be an early dismissal -- especially since his spot led off the bottom of the sixth, an ideal pinch-hitting situation.

"I was trying to be too fine. I need to be more aggressive in the strike zone," said Locke, who went to a three-ball count to five of the first nine batters -- walking three of them -- to preclude him from working deeper into the game.

Peterson's timely power: Peterson's seventh-inning leadoff homer provided a necessary insurance run for the Braves, who saw the Pirates cut the deficit to one run when Jordy Mercer drilled a two-out RBI double in the ninth. Left fielder Eury Perez exited with a sore torso after colliding with Cameron Maybin while attempting to catch Mercer's drive just in front of the left-center field wall. Former Pirates closer Jason Grilli recovered to end the game with a Gregory Polanco strikeout.

Budding rally a dud: After being held to a pair of Mercer singles through six, the Bucs put a quick move on Wood when McCutchen and Starling Marte drilled his first two pitches of the seventh for sharp singles. The lefty put a quick stop to that – after Francisco Cervelli bunted the runners up, Mercer's whiff and Sean Rodriguez's infield pop pulled the plug.

"Cervelli bunted on his own, for a base hit," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who called it a "good baseball play. I don't have a 'don't bunt' sign."

QUOTABLE "[Perez] checked out OK. You going to ask me how I am? I was a little nervous. I thought we were going to lose two players [Perez and Maybin] out there." -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, on the ninth-inning collision

"His ball-strike ratio is something we would like to get in a better place." -- Hurdle, on Locke, who through two innings had delivered 23 balls and 21 strikes

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Peterson has recorded 15 extra-base hits in his past 106 at-bats. He totaled four extra-base hits through this season's first 150 at-bats.

Locke, drafted by the Braves in 2006, and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, acquired in a Minor League trade by the Braves in '07, shared two seasons in Atlanta's Minor League system and were packaged in the '09 deal to Pittsburgh; on Sunday, they played together in the same game for the first time.

WHAT'S NEXT Braves: Shelby Miller will take the mound when Atlanta begins a three-game series against Washington on Tuesday night at Turner Field. Miller has posted a 0.85 ERA in five career starts against the Nationals. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Pirates: Following Monday's off-day -- their final one prior to the All-Star break -- the Bucs kick off a brief, three-game Interleague trip with Tuesday night's 7:08 p.m. ET series opener in Detroit's Comerica Park. Gerrit Cole will pit his lifetime 6-1 Interleague record against the Tigers.

Wood splinters Bucs' bats, plays stopper

Lefty fans eight to help Braves snap five-game skid

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | June 28th, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- While Julio Teheran has created concern with the inconsistency he has displayed over the past few months, Alex Wood has spent the past six weeks proving he could make adjustments necessary to distance himself from his early-season struggles.

Still, none of the successful outings Wood has recently completed were any more impressive than the dominant one he fashioned while helping the Braves snap a five-game losing streak with Sunday afternoon's 2-1 win over the Pirates at PNC Park.

"This is my best [start] of the year for sure, just in terms of my fastball command, being able to move it in and out," Wood said. "Today is how I felt during that long stretch that I put together last year. Hopefully, it will carry over the rest of the year."

As Wood limited the Pirates to five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, he might have actually been even more impressive than he had been during many of the outings he completed while posting a 1.92 ERA over last season's final 11 starts.

For the first time this season, Wood commanded his fastball on both sides of the plate and consistently produced awkward swings with his spike curveball. Consequently, he matched a season-high eight strikeouts and limited the Pirates to a pair of Jordy Mercer singles through the first six innings.

"He was pretty much in control the whole game," Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He had all three of his pitches working and he was moving his fastball around. He was ahead in the count. That's what he can do. When he's right, he can dominate lineups. Today you saw a glimpse of what he can do."

After proving dominant through the first six innings, Wood impressed with the poise and approach he maintained after Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte opened the bottom of the seventh by notching consecutive singles on first-pitch fastballs. The Braves' left-hander then displayed his athleticism to record an out on Francisco Cervelli's sacrifice bunt.

With a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, Wood cautiously approached Mercer with the understanding that a walk would set up a double-play opportunity against Sean Rodriguez. But after Mercer aggressively chased a high 2-1 fastball, Wood went for the kill and froze the Pirates' shortstop with a fastball.

"He threw a lot of fastballs in to a lot of their right-handed hitters that backed them up and made them respect both sides of the plate," Pierzynski said. "He had a lot of strikeouts, especially looking at fastballs that were in on the plate because they were looking out over [the plate]."

As Wood compiled a 4.03 ERA through five starts in April, he did not have a consistent feel for his two-seam fastball or his curveball, a pitch with which he concluded three of his first four strikeouts on Sunday.

But now that he has a feel for both of these pitches and his changeup, Wood is hoping to end this season much like he did last year, with a number of outings similar to this latest one against the Pirates.

"When you have a day like today when you have all three pitches going, those usually turn out to be pretty fun days," Wood said.

Perez OK after collision with Maybin in 9th

By John McGonigal / MLB.com | June 28th, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- Braves outfielders Eury Perez and Cameron Maybin broke for the ball, and while neither came up with the catch, they're lucky no bones were broken.

In the bottom of the ninth of the Braves' 2-1 win over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer drove a Jason Grilli fastball to the left-center-field warning track.

In a two-run game with two outs, both Perez and Maybin tried desperately to get to the ball. Instead, the two collided, as Maybin's 6-foot-3 frame barreled into Perez's 180-pound body.

Maybin was fine, but Perez laid on the warning track holding his torso for a few minutes before leaving the game on his own power. He was replaced in the field by Joey Terdoslavich. After evaluation in the clubhouse, Perez's stomach and ribs checked out without injury.

"I was a little nervous. I thought we were going to lose two players out there," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We dodged a bullet there."

Perez, who came into the game in left field as a defensive substitution in the eighth inning, said through a translator that he didn't hear anyone else going for the ball, but knew after the play that he wasn't seriously hurt.

The collision did cost Atlanta a run as Mercer reached second and scored Francisco Cervelli from first. However, Grilli settled in and struck out pinch-hitter Gregory Polanco to avoid a three-game sweep.

Even though neither came up with the catch, the Braves' closer admired the efforts of Perez and Maybin, and was thankful they avoided injury.

"We're playing for each other. We've got each others' backs and going hard," Grilli said. "I'm glad everyone is OK. That's the most important thing."

Braves call up RP Kelly for first taste of bigs

Marimon optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett

By John McGonigal / MLB.com | June 28th, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- Right-handed reliever Ryan Kelly was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett and joined the Braves' bullpen for Sunday afternoon's game. Subsequently, fellow reliever Sugar Ray Marimon, who has a 7.71 ERA in six appearances with Atlanta this year, will be optioned to Gwinnett.

This will be Kelly's first action in the big leagues after nine seasons in the Minors. After nearly a decade of working and waiting for "the call", he was excited to finally get it.

"It's such a surreal feeling," Kelly said. "Words can't describe the feelings that you have. I'm happy to be here, and hopefully I can continue the success I've had so far."

Considering his performance in the Minors this season, Kelly's callup is warranted. He started 2015 at Double-A Mississippi, where he boasted a 0.48 ERA in 17 appearances. After moving to Triple-A, Kelly posted a 2.13 ERA in 10 relief spots.

Kelly said the road hasn't been easy, dealing with injuries early in his professional career. However, he acknowledged that he's been fortunate with quality pitching coaches along the way who have helped him in a myriad of ways, including the addition of a cutter to his arsenal.

The righty, after years of seeing teammates get called up, said he was always looking forward to his turn, but never "read too far into things."

"You can only go out and do what you do, and hope that something good happens," Kelly said.

It took awhile, but in terms of reaching the Majors, Kelly's approach worked.

Miller, Zimm look to repeat duel in opener in Atlanta

By John McGonigal / MLB.com | June 28th, 2015

Shelby Miller hasn't recorded a win since May 17, but the right-hander with the 1.94 ERA looks for continued success in a rematch against Jordan Zimmermann and the Nationals at 7:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Turner Field.

Since recording his last win, the 24-year-old has had three starts in which he surrendered just one run. In fact, in Miller's last outing -- against Washington and Zimmermann -- he went seven innings and gave up one run on just three hits.

Zimmermann tossed eight scoreless innings in that duel against Miller last time out, scattering six hits in the process. Zimmermann owns a 5-2 record and 2.84 ERA against the Braves.

Things to know about this game

• Kelly Johnson and Nick Markakis, both left-handers, have had good fortunes against Zimmermann in the past. Johnson owns a .357 batting average (5-for-14) with a .400 on-base percentage, while Markakis totes a .333 average (7-for-21) with a home run against the right-hander.

• Miller has been stellar this season, but even more so at home. At Turner Field, the righty boasts a 1.59 ERA and 3.30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six starts, which includes a complete-game shutout.

• If the Braves have a save opportunity, closer Jason Grilli will be looking to exorcise some demons against the Nationals. The 38-year-old has had just two blown saves this season, and the most recent was while facing Washington. On April 28, Grilli surrendered a go-ahead three-run home run to Dan Uggla in the top of the ninth.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after victory over Pirates

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after 2-1 victory over Pirates Sunday at PNC Park.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On Alex Wood’s start

Tremendous. Great putting. Mixed his pitches well. He attacked the strike zone today. He was committed to every pitch. He did a great job (against) a primarily right-handed hitting lineup. His changeup was good. He gave us a tremendous opportunity to win the game. We took him as far as we could there in the eighth inning and J.J. (Jim Johnson) did a good job shutting the door. It’s never easy to win a big-league ballgame even though you have a two-run lead, and we did it. A happy plane going back on an off day is always good.

On Jace Peterson’s home run in the seventh

He’s had a couple big situations. Yesterday he had a three-run double, today it was a solo home run to give us another run. He’s swinging the bat nicely.

On Wood’s efficiency

He was good. He was really, really good.

On Eury Perez’s status after he left the game following collision in outfield

He checked out OK. You going to ask me how I am? I was a little nervous. I thought we weregoing to lose two players out there but luckily (Cameron Maybin) is OK and Eury checked out. It was more his torso than it was the head. There’s nothing there so hopefully we dodged a bullet.

On Wood getting out of jam in seventh

He rose up there. We’ve got first and second with no outs and the bunt them over to second and third, to get out of that inning with no runs was a big inning for us.

On Wood fielding Francisco Cervelli’s bunt

He’s an OK athlete. He doesn’t look really athletic but he gets off the mound. If you look at the replay, it looked like he had trouble getting it out of his glove with a guy who can run a little bit. IT was a good outing by him.

**ALEX WOOD

On his outing

Two big things for me was command of the sinker arm side to righties and also command of the breaking ball. I was able to do both of those today and my changeup was good when I needed it.

On getting out of the seventh inning

I threw a good pitch to (Andrew) McCutchen. Obviously he’s a tremendous hitter, he gets a knock up the middle. I tried to side step (Starling) Marte and hopefully he rolls over something, he stayed on it and they get first and second. I was honestly surprised that Cervelli bunted there. It was a

good bunt. We got the out. You don’t want to give (Jordy Mercer) too much good to hit, base open and a potential double play ball on deck. We didn’t pitch around him but threw some competitive pitches. Once we get two strikes we felt we could get the punch out.

On if there was any carryover from last start in Washington

Not really. When you have a day like today when you’ve got all three (pitches) going, they usually turn into fun days. We needed a win today and everybody came to play. It definitely feels good to get out of Pittsburgh with a W.

On his curveball

Any time I can command my breaking ball like that it’s definitely big from me because when you have it coming out of your hand and the break is good, those are the pitches you are trying to throw to right-handers. Backdoor breaking balls is when you get your swings and misses.

**JASON GRILLI

On getting the win on getaway day

Any win is good, man. Woody pitched phenomenal. J.J. came in to get those big outs, and then to put the finishing touches on it it’s always big. Obviously for me personally it’s good to walk away and come back from the other night’s performance.

On Perez and Maybin giving good effort on the collision

You have heard me saying this plenty of times, our guys are busting their (butts) every day, playing hard. The effort is there. That’s a clear indication, just one example of going hard at it. We are playing for each other. We’ve got everybody’s backs. I am glad everybody is OK, that’s the most important thing. It’s good to not add injury to insult and walk away with a victory.

**A.J. PIERZYNSKI

On Alex Wood’s start

He was really good. Other than the seventh inning, when they got the couple hits to lead off the seventh inning, he was pretty much in control the whole game. He had all three of his pitches working, moving his fastball around, getting ahead in the count. That’s what he can do. When he’s right he can dominate lineups and today you saw a glimpse of what he’s capable of when he’s right.

On Wood’s emotion after getting out of jam in seventh

Second and third, (one) out, is a big situation. We had a two-run lead at the time. To get out of it without giving up any—we were counting on maybe giving up one and damage control and get through it. To give up out of that inning ended up being huge. It was a big situation and he should be excited.

On Wood’s curveball

He had a good curveball, he had a good fastball. He threw a lot of fastballs in to right-handed hitters and backed them up and just made them respect both sides of the plate. He had a lot of strikeouts especially looking on fastballs in on the plate because they were looking over.

Braves ride lefty Wood to victory over Pirates

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PITTSBURGH — All day, Braves left-hander Alex Wood had quieted Pirates fans and relegated pitching coach Roger McDowell to the dugout to watch him work.

But now the Pirates had an opening in the bottom of the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles by Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte followed by a sacrifice by Francisco Cervelli had PNC Park buzzing about erasing a two-run deficit. McDowell trotted out to the mound for a chat.

It turned out to be a mere minor setback on a dominant day for Wood. He quickly reestablished the status quo by striking out Jordy Mercer and getting Sean Rodriguez to pop out to second baseman Jace Peterson to cork the rally.

The lead was preserved and the Braves made it hold up for a 2-1 victory Sunday. The Braves (36-40) ended their season-long losing streak at five games and avoided a second consecutive sweep.

The Pirates (42-33) had just five hits against Wood — only one for extra bases — and struck out eight times over 7 1/3 innings. Wood (5-5) mixed in sharp curveballs and effective changeups with a fastball that consistently hit the corner of the plate.

“When you have a day like today when you’ve got all three going, they usually turn into fun days,” Wood said. “We needed a win today and everybody came to play. It definitely feels good to get out of Pittsburgh with a ‘W.’”

The Braves had to survive some tense moments late to pull it off. The Pirates threatened again in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Neil Walker knocked a one-out double to chase Wood, who gave way to Jim Johnson.

Johnson struck out Josh Harrison and pinch hitter Pedro Alvarez flied out to end the inning. Closer Jason Grilli recorded two outs in the ninth before walking Cervelli. The victory appeared secure when center fielder Cameron Maybin made a long run and gathered under Jordy Mercer’s drive at the warning track.

But left fielder Eury Perez failed to give way to Maybin and the two collided at the wall as the ball popped out of Maybin’s glove. The double scored Cervelli and Grilli had to face pinch hitter Gregory Polanco with the potential tying run at second base. Perez had to leave the game after the collision but was not seriously injured.

Grilli had Polanco down 0-2 in the count before Polanco worked it back to full. He struck out on a check swing to end the game.

The Braves lost the series opener on Friday when Grilli , a former All-Star for the Pirates, gave up a walk-off double.

“Woody pitched phenomenal. J.J. came in to get those big outs and then to put the finishing touches on it, it’s always big,” Grilli said. “Obviously for me personally, it’s good to walk away and come back from the other night’s performance.”

Wood had his first scoreless outing since limiting the Phillies to five hits over 5 2/3 innings on April 24. He matched the eight strikeouts he had against the Nationals on April 29 and won for the first time in his past four decisions.

“He had all three of his pitches working, moving his fastball around, getting ahead in the count,” Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “That’s what he can do. When he’s right, he can dominate lineups and today you saw a glimpse of what he’s capable of.”

The Braves scraped up just enough offense to back up Wood. They scored a combined 10 runs in the two series against the Nationals and Pirates.

Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke (4-4) recorded his first 13 outs by way of strikeout or ground balls. The Braves finally broke through in the fifth inning when Maybin hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a passed ball by Cervelli and scored on Nick Markakis’ single.

The Braved made Locke throw 94 pitches to get through five innings before he gave way to the bullpen. The Braves added Peterson’s lead-off homer in the seventh inning to provide some cushion.

“It’s never easy to win a big-league ballgame even though you have a two-run lead and we did it,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “A happy plane going back to an off day is always good.”

Braves 2, Pirates 1

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A recap of the Braves’ 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park.

How the game was won: Left-hander Alex Wood dominated the Pirates to lead the Braves to a 2-1 victory that ended their losing streak at five games. Wood limited the Pirates to five hits and no runs over 7 1/3 innings while striking out eight batters with no walks. The Braves backed him up with an RBI single by Nick Markakis in the fifth inning and Jace Peterson’s lead-off home run in the seventh.

Number:7. Consecutive starts without a win for Braves right-hander Shelby Miller, who posted a 2.70 ERA during that stretch.

Next: The Braves play the Nationals at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday on Fox Sports South. RHP Shelby Miller (5-3, 1.94 ERA) faces TBA.

Braves outfielder Perez OK after collision

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PITTSBURGH—Braves outfielder Eury Perez avoided serious injury when he collided with Cameron Maybin in the bottom of the ninth inning of Sunday’s game at the Pirates.

With two outs, Maybin and Perez both ran for Jordy Mercer’s fly ball to left-center. Maybin got to it first but Perez kept running until he crashed into Maybin near the wall. Maybin couldn’t hold on and the ball fell for an RBI double.

Perez stayed down on the field for several minutes before eventually walking to the clubhouse. He was replaced in left field by Joey Terdoslavich. Maybin stayed in the game.

Perez said through an interpreter that he he didn’t see Maybin and took a hit to his stomach.

“He checked out OK,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “You going to ask me how I am? I was a little nervous. I thought we were going to lose two players out there but luckily (Maybin) is OK and Eury checked out. It was more his torso than it was the head. There’s nothing there so hopefully we dodged a bullet.”

The Braves went on to win 2-1.

Peterson bashing with bases loaded for Braves

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PITTSBURGH—Maybe all it took for Braves second baseman Jace Peterson to break out of a recent slump was a chance to hit with the bases loaded.

Peterson hit a three-run double during the 8-4 loss to the Pirates on Saturday. He’s now 7-for-11 with the bases loaded, including a double, a triple and a home run. With runners on any base, Peterson is 28-for-81 (.346) with five doubles, two triples and two home runs.

“When runners are on, you are trying to get them in,” Peterson said after the game Saturday. “Any time you come up in that situation you try to put a little bit more grit to it, I guess, and try to get the job done.”

Peterson showed more power during Sunday’s series finale. He belted a solo home run to right-center against Pirates reliever Vance Worley for his third homer of the season.

Peterson ended a 0-for-13 skid with a single to lead off the game on Saturday. He had gone hitless with six strikeouts in the three-game series at Washington to drop his season batting average from .284 to .264.

Peterson said the big hit in Saturday’s game could get him back on track.

“I think so,” he said. “In Washington, I struggled. I hit some balls good and didn’t’ get hits. I’ve just got to keep going. That’s part of baseball. You have ups and downs but you’ve got to keep going.”

Braves promote pitcher Ryan Kelly from Gwinnett

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PITTSBURGH—For the second consecutive day the Braves added a long-time minor league player to their roster.

Right-hander Ryan Kelly got the call from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. He follows right-hander Jake Brigham, who was promoted from Gwinnett on Saturday.

Kelly, 27, said the Braves told him he could be called up if Saturday’s game against the Pirates were rained out. The game was completed but then Kelly got the news he still would be called up to join the bullpen.

“It’s such a surreal feeling,” he said. “To be in the minor leagues for nine years and finally get that call, words can’t describe the feeling that you have. I’m happy to be here. Hopefully I can continue the success I’ve had so far.”

The Pirates selected Kelly in the 26th round of the 2006 draft out of Walter State Community College in Tennessee. He said injuries limited his effectiveness early in his career. It took him until 2012 to reach the Double- and Triple-A levels in the Padres’ organization.

The Braves signed Kelly last season and he’s been effective in the minor leagues. In 2014 he had a 2.92 ERA with 49 strikeouts over 40 innings in 30 games between high Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Mississippi. This year Kelly has posted a 1.15 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings in 27 games between Mississippi and Gwinnett.

“My last couple years I’ve been fortunate to have some good pitching coaches,” Kelly said. “I started throwing a couple new pitches and that’s been a big boost to my career. I started throwing a cutter in 2012, and that’s been a big thing for me (with) just trying to keep hitters off balance.”

To make room for Kelly on the roster, the Braves optioned right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon to Gwinnett.

Georgia Supreme Court: Braves bonds are valid

By Dan Klepal - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Supreme Court has affirmed that Cobb County’s contribution of public money to help build SunTrust Park is constitutional.

The ruling, released Monday morning, paves the way for Cobb to issue up to $397 million in bonds for the $672 million project.

The Braves issued a statement Monday saying: “We have been working diligently for months to prepare SunTrust Park for Opening Day of 2017. From the outset, we were confident that the process undertaken by our partners in Cobb County to issue the bonds was thorough and legally sound. We are pleased that the Georgia Supreme Court has validated the bonds and we look forward to delivering SunTrust Park and the surrounding mixed-use community to our fans, the people of Cobb County and the metro Atlanta region.”

The county will provide $368 million toward stadium construction, and use the rest to pay for issuance costs and about the first year of interest on the debt.

At issue was whether a contractual agreement between the county and the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority, which will actually issue the taxpayer-backed bonds, was legal; and whether the county could provide public money to the project without a referendum.

Attorney Tucker Hobgood, arguing against the bond validation in the appeal, said the county giving money to the project also violated the Georgia Constitution’s gratuities clause, because public money was being given to a private corporation — in this case, Braves’ owner Liberty Media.

“…We conclude that the intergovernmental contract is valid; that the issuance of the bonds will not violate the Georgia Constitution’s debt limitation clause, gratuities clause, or lending clause or Georgia’s revenue bond laws; and that the process used to validate the bonds was not deficient,” the ruling says.

Hobgood said he was disappointed in the ruling, but respects the court’s decision.

“It is a resounding victory for those who advocate that big government, in league with big business, can and should saddle taxpayers with long-term debt without taxpayer consent by a specific vote,” Hobgood said. “Regardless of whether the electorate vote out the current Board of Commissioners, my grandchildren, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2045, will be paying for this (as have generations in Atlanta for Underground), with no one having to ask the taxpayers for permission.

“The Constitutional debt clause appears to be a dead letter.”

In its unanimous ruling, the court wrote that “aspects of the deal structure at issue may push the law about as far as it can go, it does not cross the line into illegality. …We do not discount the concerns appellants have raised about the wisdom of the stadium project and the commitments Cobb County has made to entice the Braves move there.

“But those concerns lie predominantly in the realm of public policy entrusted to the county’s elected officials for decision, not in the realm of constitutional or statutory law.

“If the stadium deal does not fulfill the high expectations that have been set for it, there may be a significant political price to pay for those who negotiated and signed onto it. But under the law of Georgia as construed in the precedents of this court, we cannot say that the trial court erred in validating the bonds or that the validation process was deficient.”

Behind the photo: Greg Olson

By I.J. Rosenberg - For the AJC

Greg Olson always had a thing for the dramatic.

The former Braves catcher, who didn’t hit the major league scene until he was 29, is shown here in Game 1 of the 1991 World Series in Minnesota after taking a hard hit from Dan Gladden, doing a backwards somersault and still holding on to the ball. Sports Illustrated featured the play on the cover of the magazine and it remains one of the top 100 SI photos of all-time.

“If I’m telling the story, what I like to say is when do you get a chance to get on the cover of SI, you do it … not really,’’ said Olson.

Olson, who played in all but one inning of the seven games in that World Series, was an excellent defensive catcher and, at more than 200 pounds, was tough to knock off the plate. He was also extremely flexible.

The play took place in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, one out and reliever Jim Clancy in for starter Charlie Leibrandt. The Twins led 4-0 and had Brian Harper at the plate, who already had two hits in the game.

On a 2-2 count, Harper drove a ball into left field which Brian Hunter caught on the run. Gladden tagged up, Hunter twirled and threw right to third baseman Terry Pendleton, who turned and riffled a throw to Olson, who had come up the line to catch the ball.

Olson handled the throw and, with both feet planted, prepared himself for the hit. Gladden came in with his spikes up and his left leg went hard into Olson’s right shin guard, the momentum flipping the catcher backwards. Olson, maintaining a hold on the ball, actually landed on his feet to complete the double play.

“The reason the play happened was because the throw was at my shoelaces,’’ said Olson, now 54, and living in Eden Prairie, Minn. “If that ball is thrown to my chest, I just catch it and extend my hands and tag him and get out of the way. I don’t think Gladden did anything dirty. He played hard and I was always very flexible and could do a cartwheel and a roundoff.’’

The Braves would lose the game 5-2 but the play was certainly one of the best in what some believe was the greatest World Series ever played.

Fox Sports South

Three Cuts: Wood silences Pirates' bats; Braves halt 5-game slide

Jay Clemons

Here are three random, but detailed takes from the Braves' 2-1 victory over the Pirates on Sunday -- Atlanta's first and only win from a brief road swing through Washington and Pittsburgh:

1. ALEX WOOD MADE UP FOR HIS SHORT OUTING AGAINST THE PIRATES FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO -- IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY

Heading into the weekend, Wood had surrendered three or fewer earned runs in 12 of 14 starts -- an admirable tally for any pitcher in the major leagues.

And yet, the 24-year-old still managed to shave 27 points off his seasonal ERA on Sunday, stifling the Pirates for zero runs, zero walks and five scattered hits over 7 1/3 superb innings.

To say Wood had extra motivation for Sunday's dominance wouldn't be a hyperbolic statement.

Yes, Wood wanted to halt the Braves' five-game slide (a season-worst stretch), but he also wanted to atone for the June 7 outing against Pittsburgh, when the usually reserved southpaw got ejected after five innings, while absorbing his third home defeat of the season.

The only commonalities from the Pittsburgh starts? Wood didn't finish either game, but he left Sunday with greater peace of mind, allowing no more than four Pirates batters for Innings 1-6 ... and racking up eight strikeouts -- tying a seasonal best from April 29 (against the Nationals).

Looking ahead, Wood has a viable chance to double up his modest scoreless-innings streak. His weekend start comes against the anemic Phillies -- the worst scoring team in baseball.

As such, Wood blanked Philadelphia over five-plus innings on April 24.

Shelby Miller on golf, life with Braves

2. JACE PETERSON'S INSURANCE-RUN HOMER EASILY STANDS AS THE BIGGEST HIT OF THE ROAD SWING

The Braves didn't have a ton of scoring opportunities on Sunday, collecting just eight hits and posting a .200 batting average (1 for 5) with runners in scoring position.

The lone RISP hit came from Nick Markakis. In fifth inning, Atlanta led off with two easy outs from Wood (strikeout) and Peterson (flyout). But Cameron Maybin notched a single to left field and then advanced to second on a passed ball.

That set the stage for Markakis, who patiently stayed back on Jeff Locke's slow breaking ball and punched a seeing-eye RBI single past Pirates first baseman Sean Rodriguez, easily scoring Maybin for the game's opening run.

Two innings later, Peterson crunched a homer off Pirates reliever Deolis Guerra -- his third blast of the season -- boosting the Braves' lead to 2-0. It also marked the first time, citing 106 career MLB at-bats, that Peterson led off an inning with a home run.

All told, Peterson certainly helped Atlanta avoid the perils of a winless road trip. The victory also affected Pittsburgh in two unique ways (hat tip to the FOX Sports South announcers for the info):

**The Braves became the first National League East team to beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh (1-11 this season).

**Pittsburgh incurred its first daytime defeat of the year.

3. IT WOULDN'T BE ABSURD TO DECLARE THE BRAVES' UPCOMING HOME STAND AS CRUCIAL TO THEIR PLAYOFF CHANCES

For the sake of argument, let's say the Braves (36-40) split the six-game home slate against the Nationals (1 -2) and Phillies (2-1). That would put Atlanta at 39-43, with only 41 remaining outings at Turner Field.

In the National League East, the Nationals (42-33 heading into Sunday, winners of eight straight) are on pace for 91 victories -- when rounding up. If that trend continues, starting next Monday (July 6), the Braves would need a 52-28 mark over their final 80 games ... just for the right to clinch a tie with Washington at season's end.

It's a remarkably similar uphill climb with the wild-card hunt, as well, where the Braves currently own the sixth spot in this two-team chase.

The Pirates (42-33), owners of WC #1, have the same record as the East-leading Nationals. They also have 44 remaining games at PNC Park (24-14 at home). Of equal relevance, of Pittsburgh's final 16 outings ... seven come against bottom-feeders like Colorado and Cincinnati.

The Giants (41-35), the current owners of WC #2, will undoubtedly push the West-leading Dodgers for the division title down the stretch.

That heat should maintain Los Angeles and San Francisco as candidates for the 90-win mark ... meaning that Atlanta would need at least 50 victories -- beginning July 6 -- to match or even overtake the West "loser" for a wild card spot.

San Francisco will be particularly hard to catch in September. Of the club's final 22 games -- all played within the state of California -- 16 occur at home.

Back to the Braves: The calendar may still read "June" ... but this is a huge week for a club that's in the proverbial no-man's land of playoff contention, in terms of being buyers or sellers for the postseason stretch run.

Just do the math. Atlanta needs to get hot very soon.

There's really no way around it.

The Augusta Chronicle

Jace Peterson plays above grades in first season with Braves

By David Lee

ATLANTA — When the Braves traded Justin Upton over the winter, reports centered around the potential in Atlanta’s higher-ranked prospects from the deal.

One player left out of much of that talk is the one providing the most impact now and in the immediate future: second baseman Jace Peterson.

As a prospect in the San Diego Padres system, Peterson occasionally found himself inside a top-10 team prospects list. His grades never changed much from his first full minor league season in 2012 to his Braves debut this year.

Before this season, Baseball Americagave him a 50 overall grade as an average everyday player. Baseball Prospectus graded him a realistic 45 as a utility player with the potential to play every day. FanGraphs.com graded him at 40 as a bench player who “would have to really outplay his tools to become an everyday player.”

Baseball America was the high source on Peterson as the one most confident in his ability to play in the majors every day. The consensus was that his tools needed to play up to be successful at the highest level, meaning he needed to reach or surpass his grades to be an everyday player.

Although Peterson is only 66 games into his first full season in the majors, he’s already showing the ability to reach and surpass those grades. The one most important to him is the hit tool, and he’s already maxing its potential as a rookie.

“It’s just a matter of staying with it, keep grinding, keep working, and at the end of the day the numbers should be where I want them to be,” Peterson said.

Identifying a player’s hit tool is one of the more difficult and extensive scouting processes.

As former scout and current FanGraphs.com prospect writer Kiley McDaniel wrote, “If you ask scouts for a short list of the things they’re looking for in amateur hitters, the list would include athleticism/looseness, bat speed, some feel for the bat head, some sense of a plan at the plate, to recognize pitches/adjust and other plate discipline type things.”

Several factors go into determining a player’s hit tool, one of the most important being his feel for the bat head or barrel. A hitter’s ability to make consistent contact on the barrel, and not get fooled so much by off-speed that it hinders his contact skills, impacts his grade.

Scouts and prospect writers have graded Peterson’s hit tool in the range of average to above average, or 50 to 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. According to an accepted scale, that equals a .260-.270 hitter.

Through Peterson’s first 270 plate appearances, he’s hitting .279 with a .360 on-base percentage. The Braves have been so impressed by how far he’s come along in a short amount of time that he was moved to the leadoff spot and plays second base every day.

It took less than half his rookie season to show the skills to play above the scouting grades he was given. He attributed the help of first-year hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who preaches what has been Peterson’s contact approach ever since turning professional.

“He makes sure you come in every day and get your work in, stick to your approach and make sure we stay on the same page with what our approach should be,” Peterson said. “He’s helped me so far, and I look forward to continue to work with him and get better.”

The first on the hit tool list, athleticism and looseness, is Peterson’s weakest trait at the plate. He’s a good athlete, a former football player, but he lacks the loose hands typically found on a great hitter. He also doesn’t have the second trait on the list, standout bat speed, but it’s enough to occasionally turn on velocity and hit the ball hard.

Third on the list, feel for hitting, is where Peterson shines and makes up for the first two. His contact percentage within the strike zone is league average, but he has a knack for finding the barrel of the bat at an above-average rate. The result is a 22 percent line drive rate, which compares well to other contact hitters in the Braves lineup.

The fourth factors, pitch recognition and approach, are pluses for Peterson, who has the second-best walk percentage on the team at 11 percent. He has the third-best walk-to-strikeout ratio behind Nick Markakis and Andrelton Simmons.

“For the most part, we’re doing a good job as a team of getting on base, staying with our approach, staying within ourselves and putting good at-bats together,” Peterson said.

Along with the Braves moving Peterson to the leadoff spot and giving him an everyday role, they’re giving prospect Jose Peraza time in center field at Triple-A Gwinnett. It’s not a coincidence Peraza is playing less often at second base. There’s a tie between that move and Peterson’s play, because Atlanta sees Peterson as the potential second baseman of the present and future.

“I want to do better and get better, but I’ll take where I’m at,” Peterson said. “I’m not satisfied, though, and I want to keep working, wanting to keep doing better.”

Braves' Andrelton Simmons seeing offensive improvements under new philosophy

By David Lee

ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons used a term often thrown around baseball circles to help explain his offensive improvements this season, but it rings true in his case.

“I give (hitting coach Kevin Seitzer) headaches in the cage, but I’m seeing the results of what we’re doing,” Simmons said.

“It’s definitely helping with staying through the ball more.”

Simmons’ ability to “stay through the ball” has been key to what is currently his first full major league season with a batting average of at least .270.

He has a .324 on-base percentage with 19 extra-base hits in nearly 300 plate appearances.

It’s a big change from last season when he struggled to stay above water at the plate, finishing at .244 with a .286 on-base percentage.

His poor offensive numbers stifled his defense by limiting his overall value to the team.

Seitzer, hired this past off-season to bring a contact philosophy to the Braves, has had a positive impact on Simmons.

The shortstop is using the coach’s mentality of staying on the ball, working up the middle, limiting actions at the plate and grinding out at-bats.

“I’m still working, still growing,” Simmons said. “We’ve been working on staying up the middle more, staying on the ball, learning how to hit the off-speed a little better. We’re making progress.”

That progress is seen at the plate and in the numbers. The violent swing that often had him stumbling or hitting a knee last season has been cut down in the name of contact, and he has settled for the line drive single more often instead of aiming for the left field bleachers.

Simmons has increased his line drive rate by seven percentage points while cutting down his fly ball rate by six points.

He’s spraying line drives to all fields rather than violently popping the ball up, and he said he’s noticed fewer ground balls weakly rolled over to third baseor shortstop.

A key part of Seitzer’s plan, grinding out at-bats, has also been big for Simmons.

The 25-year-old already had one of the lowest strikeout percentages in baseball the past couple years, but it’s even lower at 6 percent this season, ranked second in Major League Baseball.

While Simmons continues to play defense at an elite level, the offensive improvements under Seitzer have pushed his overall value closer to 2013 level when he hit 17 home runs.

He’s doing it a different way this time, however, by finding outfield holes with line drives.

FREEMAN UPDATE: First baseman Freddie Freeman received a platelet-rich-plasma injection in his right wrist this past week as he waits for the bone bruise to heal.

The Braves termed the injury a right wrist contusion, but the bone bruise is more painful and takes longer to heal than the simple term describes.

It ended his major-league-high 243 consecutive games streak and could keep him out for much of July.

MiLB.com

Weigel, D-Braves take no-no into seventh

Seventh-round pick walks one in four innings; Astros pull out 1-0 win

By Kelsie Heneghan / MiLB.com

As he began his professional career, Patrick Weigel had to adjust to typical things: a new level, new teammates and a new city. He also had to adapt to a new inning.

In his second outing since transitioning to the starting rotation, the Braves seventh-round pick in this year's Draft allowed one walk over four innings Sunday as Rookie-level Danville took a no-hitter into the seventh in a 1-0 loss to Greeneville at Pioneer Park.

"My first start at Pulaski was Opening Day there and it was really exciting, the first inning, definitely. It was just a different experience than what I did in college, especially going from relieving to now starting; it was my first start since February," Weigel said. "Just making that transition and now with my second start under my belt, it's going well."

The 20-year-old right-hander was perfect before issuing a one-out walk to Myles Straw in the fourth. Aaron Mizell reached on second baseman Luke Dykstra's error, but Weigel retired Connor Goedert on a fly ball to center field and struck out Randy Cesar to strand runners at the corners.

"I relied heavily on my fastball today. It had pretty good life on it, pretty good movement," the University of Houston product said. "Just throwing strikes, keeping hitters off-balance, just getting easy ground balls for my teammates. They played great defense for us today."

With the Cougars, Weigel made one start in 23 appearances as a junior before the Braves selected him with their 10th pick. He wasn't sure until he got to Danville whether he'd stay in the bullpen or move into the rotation. Since he's become a starter, Weigel has thought back to his year at Oxnard Junior College in California.

"It's the same game. You go out and get three outs in every inning, it's just a different order that you do it in," he said. "My main goal is just to go out there and get ground balls for my teammates and get back to the dugout so we can hit."

After Weigel exited, Bradley Roney fanned five and walked one to keep the no-hitter intact through the sixth.

"We both have pretty similar velocities. Coming in, they weren't catching up to the fastball when I was in, and bringing in Roney after me, he just came in and kept firing fastballs as well," Weigel said. "They still just had not caught up to the velocity yet. So it was a good matchup for both of us today and he definitely kept it going. He was very dominant."

One constant during the D-Braves' no-hit bid was catcher Trey Keegan, Atlanta's 14th-round pick this year.

"He got a lot of borderline pitches for me and he blocked everything I threw out there. He did a great job tonight as well," Weigel said. "It's awesome anytime you can get a call, it can completely change an at-bat, whether it be a first strike or a 1-1 count, anything you can get a call in your favor."

The no-hitter ended when Goedert greeted Daniel Cordero (0-1) with a leadoff single to center in the seventh. Goedert took second on shortstop Kurt Hoekstra, moved up on a wild pitch and scored the game's only run on Brauly Mejia's groundout.

"I was in the locker room and I heard the crowd start going and I poked out to see what was going on. I caught it after the fact," Weigel said. "It was definitely a tough one, but that's baseball. You're going to have those days. Just take what we did positive today and build on it and go forth in the season."

Astros reliever Ryan Deemes (1-0) worked around two hits over three innings for his first professional win and Zac Grotz pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first career save.

The Tallahassee Democrat

Smith making quick impression in pro baseball

By Jim Henry

When the team bus motored by Turner Field early Friday morning en route to Atlanta's airport, Mallex Smith focused on the view outside his window.

He's one step away from the show.

"It really put it in perspective," Smith said.

The former Rickards High standout has made a quick impression in professional baseball, and the 22-year-old speedster is not slowing down either.

Ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization by Baseball America, Smith was assigned from Double-A Mississippi to Triple-A Gwinnett last Wednesday.

It's less than 30 miles from the Braves' highest-level team in the minor leagues in Lawrenceville, Georgia, to their executive offices and big-league ballpark at Turner Field.

Smith is enjoying the ride, even when promotions arrive unexpectedly.

The center fielder and lead-off hitter was told the news in the bottom of the seventh inning of Mississippi's road game at Tennessee last week. Smith had been given the game off and was coaching first base when summoned by his manager.

The promotion was delivered with a handshake and a smile.

"I thought I was going to be in Double-A the whole year since it was my first full season in Double-A," Smith explained.

"It's not like I was settled for where I was, but I wasn't anxious about going anywhere."

The numbers certainly suggest Smith is prepared for the next step.

The 5-foot-9, left-handed hitter with true top-of-the-order potential had a .340 average with nine extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 23 stolen bases through 57 games with the Double-A Braves.

He ranks second in the Southern League and leads all Braves farmhands in batting average and ranks first in stolen bases. Smith has 193 stolen bases (he has been caught only 52 times) in 325 minor league games.

Smith doesn't plan to change his approach in Triple-A – play sound defense, take advantage of fastballs over the plate and disrupt opponents on the base paths.

"I am just trying to keep the game as simple as possible, not trying to do too much," Smith said.

"I am not trying to do more than I am capable of."

It has been a whirlwind seven months for the 2011 graduate of Rickards, known for his work ethic, discipline and professional mindset.

After hitting .310 with a .403 on-base percentage and leading minor league baseball with 88 stolen bases (114 attempts) in 120 games for two Padres Single-A affiliates last season, Smith was dealt to the Braves last December.

Assigned to Double-A Mississippi, Smith was named by the organization as Mississippi's May Player of the Month, hitting .347 in 26 games. He was also named to the Southern League All-Star team.

The postcards keep coming with Smith's latest promotion.

"Players are better, they are bigger, stronger here," Smith said of initial impressions of Triple-A. (He's off to a 1 for 12 start in three games).

"The pitchers are a little smarter. They have a better idea what they are trying and want to do. They locate better."

Smith and Gwinnett are in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, for a three-game series against Boston's Triple-A affiliate. Friday's airline flight from Georgia to Rhode Island was Smith's first in the minor leagues.

And his view of Turner Field on the early morning ride to the airport was proof that his dreams can turn into reality.

The Marietta Daily Journal

Georgia Supreme Court: Bonds for SunTrust Park are valid

By Ricky Leroux

MARIETTA — In an opinion released Monday morning, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the county’s plan to issue up to $397 million in bonds to finance the construction of SunTrust Park is legal. The unanimous ruling allows for the bonds to be issued by the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, a governmental organization that owns the Cobb Galleria Centre and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The bonds will paid off over 30 years by the county and the Braves through an intergovernmental agreement. The Exhibit Hall Authority will also own the stadium. Cobb Chairman Tim Lee said in a statement he’s pleased with the court’s decision, which will allow the SunTrust Park project to move forward. “The project has already generated a great deal of economic growth, including thousands of construction jobs and more than $200 million in contracts to Cobb County firms,” Lee said. “We appreciate the support and diligence of the Atlanta Braves throughout this process and look forward to continuing to work with all of our partners toward the completion of a development that will benefit Cobb County, the region and State for decades to come.” Marietta attorney Tucker Hobgood, retired businessman Larry Savage of east Cobb and Austell activist Rich Pellegrino each filed appeals to the state Supreme Court after Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard validated the bonds last July. Hobgood said he is disappointed with the ruling but respects the court’s decision. “It is a resounding victory for those who advocate that big government, in league with big business, can and should saddle taxpayers with long-term debt without taxpayer consent by a specific vote,” Hobgood said. “Regardless of whether the electorate vote out the current Board of Commissioners, my grandchildren, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2045, will be paying for this —as have generations in Atlanta for Underground — with no one having to ask the taxpayers for permission.” Hobgood argued that the county was legally required to get voter approval of the bond issuance, citing a section of the Georgia Constitution known as the “Debt Clause” that states a county government cannot take on debt more than a specific percentage of the value of the property in the county without a referendum. Attorneys for the county and the Exhibit Hall Authority argue that the state’s high court has previously ruled that arrangements similar to the one reached between the two governmental bodies are an exemption to the debt clause. The state’s high court agreed, and in a 43-page opinion written by Justice David Nahmaias that answers the challenges from all three Cobb residents, it upheld Leonard’s ruling. “In these consolidated appeals, we conclude that the intergovernmental contract is valid; that the issuance of the bonds will not violate the Georgia Constitution’s debt limitation clause, gratuities clause, or lending clause or Georgia’s revenue bond laws; and that the process used to validate the bonds was not deficient,” the ruling states. “We therefore affirm the trial court’s judgment validating the stadium project bonds.” The county has agreed to repay the Exhibit Hall Authority’s debt through a combination of countywide property taxes, property taxes on businesses near the stadium, a new $3 per night fee on hotel rooms near the stadium, excess funds from the county’s existing hotel/motel tax and a new tax on rental cars — a total of about $18 million each year. Additionally, the Braves have pledged to make annual payments of $6.1 million over the 30 year term of the bonds.

Chairman Lee reveals details of Braves bridge

By Ricky Leroux

MARIETTA — Cobb Chairman Tim Lee said Friday the county won’t be using general fund revenue or money from its contingency fund to build the multi-use bridge designed to span Interstate 285 and connect the Cobb Galleria with the new Atlanta Braves stadium in Cumberland. “We won’t be doing that. That wasn’t part of the deal, and we’re going to continue to move forward,” Lee said. Lee also said he has met with the various stakeholders in the project — including the Braves, the owners of the Galleria and AECOM Technical Services Inc., the Los Angeles-based firm designing and engineering the bridge — and come to an agreement on the landing points for the bridge. However, Lee cautioned that the plans for the bridge are still evolving and the Board of Commissioners has not approved any designs. “These are evolving, they’re still all in the study stage. You have to remember there’s been no formal recommendations made to anyone. We’re just in the planning process,” Lee said. “Nothing has been presented or accepted by the BOC.” To fund the bridge, Lee said the county is hoping a federal grant could pay for most of the cost, which he said is expected to be in the $6 to $9 million range. Lee said the cost will likely be closer to $9 million. “In terms of budget, we’re still working within our budget lines. It’s still $6 to $9 million, but it would probably be safe to say it’s in the $9 million (range),” Lee said. “We’re still committed to staying within that. You’ll see that this has changed a little bit, so clearly when we get it all fleshed out, we will sit down with our partners and if there are any other additional costs, we’ll pursue outside revenue sources to get that settled.” The county won’t know whether it will get the grant until the designs are finalized, which Lee said he expects to happen by late July or early August. “This is being reviewed by the federal government for a grant, but we can’t really get a commitment from them until we get a final design approved,” Lee said. “Once we get a final design approved and determine what (the bridge’s) capabilities are, how it’s going to operate, then we’ll decide what partners we’ll go after to help get it done, whether it’s the feds, the state, the (Cumberland) CID, the authority. There’s a boatload of options, but collaboratively we’ll go with our partners to find out what’s the best way to move forward on it should there be costs in excess of what we think it will be. Right now, most of it, we’re hoping to have success with the federal government because it’s got a transit component.” In March, Lee said, the county had a meeting with AECOM, the Braves, Galleria representatives and members of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority’s board, which owns the Galleria and will own SunTrust Park. At the meeting, Lee said, the stakeholders discussed many of the details of the bridge, including whether the bridge should accommodate a shuttle, landing points for the bridge and the overall aesthetics. “There was a lot of conversation about that first presentation, and as you recall, we’ve gone from a pedestrian-only (bridge), to a pedestrian/circulator, to a double decker. This process is an evolving process … it’s getting input from folks that are important,” Lee said. The latest plans have a pedestrian lane and a lane for a circulator shuttle. A double-decker bridge — with the shuttle running on one level and pedestrians on the other — has been ruled out, Lee said. Instead, a 35-foot wide bridge will have a lane for a shuttle and a lane for pedestrians separated by a barrier. Lee said it was important for the bridge to be able to accommodate the shuttle because even if the county decides the shuttle won’t be using the bridge on Opening Day in the new stadium in spring 2017, it might be something the county could do in the future. “Even if we don’t use it as a circulator bridge initially, we should go ahead and build the infrastructure so that in four or five years, if we say, ‘You know what? It makes sense to adjust the circulator route to use the bridge,’ it’ll be built to be able to do that,” Lee said. The Board of Commissioners approved a $445,000 contract with San Francisco-based URS Corporation in May to conduct a study about a possible circulator shuttle to operate in the Cumberland area. Lee said the county expects the study by November, but the initial responses from surveys he’s seen show that the shuttle would see significant use whether there is a game at SunTrust Park or not. “The Braves are there only 81 games out of 365 days a year. This is something that we envision working year-round with a route, a time schedule, frequency and bus design to be determined further this fall as we get done. But all the studies and everything we’ve gotten to date indicate that people like it, want to use it and would use it. But still, how it works within everything is still being determined,” Lee said, adding he hopes the circulator will be up and running by the fourth quarter of 2016,” Lee said. Landing points While the landing points for the bridge have been agreed upon, how they will look and function is still being worked on, according to Karyn Matthews, the county’s project manager for the bridge project. “From a conceptual level, with the stakeholders we’ve come to an agreement about what we can do and where we’re going to be, but now it’s going to be up to the engineers to really refine that and turn that into engineering drawings and really nail that down specifically,” Matthews said.

On the south side of I-285, the current designs for the bridge have it connecting to an existing parking deck at the Cobb Galleria, which is owned by the Exhibit Hall Authority. Lee, a member of the Exhibit Hall Authority’s board, said having the bridge connect to Galleria Parkway was considered, but ruled out due to concerns about the safety of pedestrians on that road. “Pedestrian safety is paramount in this,” Lee said. The parking deck would have to be restriped to accommodate the pedestrian and shuttle traffic, Matthews said. The covered area in front of the Galleria could possibly serve as a stop for the shuttle where passengers can disembark if they parked in the area, Matthews said. On the north side, the bridge would land on property the Braves own on Circle 75 Parkway, adjacent to the parking deck of the office building at 900 Circle 75 Parkway, Matthews said. The shuttle lane would stop here, but the pedestrian lane would continue across Circle 75 and into the “main street” of the Braves’ mixed-use development being built adjacent to the ballpark, she added. The bridge using these sites will stretch 640 feet from the Galleria parking deck to the landing point for the circulator, Matthews said. The pedestrian walkway will be a total of 1,110 feet from the parking deck to the mixed-use development, she said. To hit these sites, the bridge will be curved somewhat, Matthews said. “Unfortunately, we are having to put a little bit of curve on the bridge in order to meet these tie-down points,” she said.

WXIA-TV

Ga. Supreme Court upholds ruling on Braves stadium bonds

Beth Sawicki, WXIA11:04 a.m. EDT June 29, 2015

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- The Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously upheld a Cobb County court's ruling that authorized nearly $400 million in bonds to build the new Atlanta Braves stadium.

In an opinion published Monday, the state's high court says issuing the bonds does not violate the Georgia Constitution.

The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority agreed last year to issue up to $397 million in bonds to cover the public share of building the new SunTrust Park in Cobb County's Cumberland area. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved the bond issuance.

During a July 2014 bench trial, three Cobb County residents -- Larry Savage, Richard Pellegrino and T. Tucker Hobgood -- argued the bonds should have received taxpayer approval before being issued. After a Cobb County Superior Court judge validated the bonds, the three appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court.

"We do not discount the concerns (Hobgood, Savage and Pellegrino) have raised about the wisdom of the stadium project and the commitments Cobb County has made to entice the Braves to move there," Justice David Nahmias wrote in Monday's opinion. "But those concerns lie predominately in the realm of public policy entrusted to the County's elected officials for decision, not in the realm of constitutional or statutory law."

Nahmias also wrote that "there may be a significant political price to pay for those who negotiated and signed onto" SunTrust Park if it does not meet expectations, but "under the law of Georgia as construed in the precedents of this Court, we cannot say that the trial court erred in validating the bonds or that the validation process was deficient."

Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee, who was instrumental in negotiating the deal with the Braves, said in a statement he is "pleased" with the high court's ruling.

"The project has already generated a great deal of economic growth, including thousands of construction jobs and more than $200 million in contracts to Cobb County firms," Lee said. "We appreciate the support and diligence of the Atlanta Braves throughout this process and look forward to continuing to work with all of our partners toward the completion of a development that will benefit Cobb County, the region and state for decades to come."

The Sports Xchange

Alex Wood leads Atlanta Braves past Pittsburgh

By The Sports Xchange

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates stacked their lineup with right-handed hitters, but that didn’t stop left-hander Alex Wood’s dominance Sunday.

He commanded his sinker and breaking ball precisely and pitched 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball.

Behind the left-hander, the Atlanta Braves avoided a sweep with a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Sunday. Manager Fredi Gonzalez called his start’s outing tremendous.

“He attacked the strike zone today and was committed to every pitch,” Gonzalez said. “He did a great job, primarily a right-handed hitting lineup and his changeup was good.”

Wood (5-5) scattered five hits and allowed only one runner to advance past second base. He walked none and struck out eight.

“It was one of those things where when you get all three (pitches) going those usually turn into pretty fun days,” Wood said. “We needed a win today and everybody came to play and definitely it feels good to get out of Pittsburgh with a W.”

Pittsburgh lost for the first time at home against a team from the National League East this season. The Pirates are now 11-1 in such games.

Wood was removed after he allowed a double to second baseman Neil Walker with one out. Right-hander Jim Johnson entered and stranded Walker to keep Wood’s line intact.

“I think we took him as far as we could take him in the eighth inning there and (Johnson) came in and did a nice job shutting the door there,” Gonzalez said. “It’s never easy to win a big league ballgame, had a two-run lead, and we did.”

Pittsburgh left-hander Jeff Locke allowed one run and five hits in five innings. Locke (4-4) walked three and struck out five.

“A lot of pitches,” Locke said. “A lot of long at-bats but we were able to get them to put the ball on the ground when we needed them to and I was able to get a strikeout pitch going. It seemed we got away with a lot.”

Locke threw 94 pitches in just five innings as the Braves elevated his pitch count in the early innings.

“You never know how it’s going to go,” Locke said. “Today I felt I could have attacked a little more and eat another inning or two.”

Right-hander Jason Grilli gave up a run in the ninth but still earned his 21st save.

The Pirates scored their first run of the game when Grilli walked catcher Francisco Cervelli with two outs and shortstop Jordy Mercer flew to left field. Left fielder Eury Perez and center fielder Cameron Maybin collided and the ball dropped for a RBI double.

Second baseman Jace Peterson extended Atlanta’s lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was his third home run of the season.

Pittsburgh failed to score in the seventh after center fielder Andrew McCutchen and left fielder Starling Marte led off with singles. They moved to second and third on Cervelli’s bunt.

Mercer struck out looking and first baseman Sean Rodriguez popped out to end the inning.

Hurdle said Cervelli bunted on his own and the play was not called from the dugout.

“I trust my guys when they go out and play,” Hurdle said. “He thought he was going to make a baseball play and give the guy behind him an opportunity.”

The seventh was the only inning the Pirates mounted a true threat to Wood, and his response to the situation kept the Braves firmly in the lead.

“He rose up there,” Gonzalez said. “To get out of that inning with no runs was a big inning for us.”

Atlanta scored first in the fifth with two outs. Center fielder Cameron Maybin singled to left field and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Maybin scored on right fielder Nick Markakis’ single for a 1-0 Braves lead.

Associated Press

Wood sharp as Braves top Pirates 2-1 to end losing streak

PITTSBURGH -- Alex Wood can tell the instant a breaking ball leaves his hand whether he has a feel for it on a given day. When he does, the Atlanta Braveslefty can be dominant.

Wood pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning Sunday to win for the first time in five starts, and the Braves held on for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wood (5-5) scattered five hits and struck out eight without a walk in 7 1/3 innings as Atlanta ended a season-high, five-game losing streak.

"When you get all three (pitches) going, those usually turn into pretty fun days," Wood said. "We needed a win today and everybody came to play and definitely it feels good to get out of Pittsburgh with a W."

Jace Peterson hit his third homer for the Braves. Chris Johnson added two hits and Nick Markakis drove in a run. Jason Grilli gave up a run during an eventful ninth but earned his 21st save.

Pirates star Andrew McCutchen went 1 for 4 after getting hit on the left elbow Saturday by a pitch from Julio Teheran. McCutchen wore a large brace for protection after experimenting with a couple of them before the game.

Wood's only real spot of trouble came in the seventh when McCutchen andStarling Marte hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Francisco Cervelli, who came in batting .389 against lefties, tried to bunt for a hit. Wood kept his feet and threw out Cervelli, credited with a sacrifice as the runners advanced. But Wood struck out Jordy Mercer and got Sean Rodriguez to fly out.

"I was honestly surprised Cervelli bunted there," Wood said.

So was Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

"He thought he was going to make a baseball play and give the guy behind him an opportunity," Hurdle said. "The guy made a good play. I don't have a `Don't bunt for a base hit' sign. He had a feel for it."

Cervelli defended the move, saying he would do it again if given the chance.

Atlanta didn't do much against Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke (4-4), managing only an RBI single by Markakis in the fifth. Peterson homered off reliever Vance Worley in the seventh to give the Braves a little breathing room.

Grilli, an All-Star closer for the Pirates in 2013 who took the loss in a 10-inning defeat on Friday, made Wood's hard work hold up but not without some excitement.

Cervelli walked with two outs and Mercer sent a long drive to the wall in left-center. Cameron Maybin and Eury Perez collided when both tried to make the catch. The ball glanced off Maybin's glove as Cervelli scored and Mercer raced to second with his third hit of the game.

Perez stayed down for several moments but walked off the field without assistance. Grilli struck out pinch-hitter Gregory Polanco to end it.

"Luckily, Cameron Maybin's OK and Eury got checked," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It was more of his torso than it was the head. But there's nothing there. Hopefully we dodged a bullet there."

McCutchen appeared just fine less than 24 hours after the first inning of Saturday's game when Teheran's 92 mph fastball smacked him in the elbow, the eighth time this season and the 48th time in his career he's been hit. The 2013 NL MVP joked he might need to "drop kick" an opposing pitcher to stop getting buzzed. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise and texted Hurdle on Sunday morning saying he was good to go.

Wearing a large black pad on the elbow, McCutchen didn't appear limited at the plate. He hit three long fly balls to go with his single.

"I just found whatever worked," McCutchen said. "I tried on a couple of them. Said, `This one worked.' Pretty easy. Pretty simple."

MOVING UP, MOVING OUT

Braves: Atlanta brought up reliever Ryan Kelly from Triple-A Gwinnett and sent struggling RHP Sugar Ray Marimon back to the minors.

Pirates: The odd career of Pirates OF Jose Tabata took another turn when Pittsburgh designated him for assignment for a second time. Tabata, who signed a six-year contract in 2011 and is due $4 million this season, hit .289 in 27 games with the Pirates after beginning the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. General manager Neal Huntington said he believes Tabata is open to returning to the minors if he clears waivers. The Pirates called up OF Gorkys Hernandez and immediately inserted him into the lineup. Hernandez went hitless in his first appearance in the majors since 2012.

UP NEXT

Braves: Atlanta returns home for a three-game series with Washington beginning on Tuesday. The Nationals swept Atlanta last week, outscoring the Braves 12-2 in the process. Shelby Miller (5-3, 1.94 ERA) goes for his first victory in nearly six weeks.

Pirates: Gerrit Cole will try to bounce back from his worst performance of the year when the Pirates open a three-game set in Detroit on Tuesday. Cole (11-3, 2.16 ERA) leads the majors in wins but was touched up by Cincinnati for a season-high five runs in 4 2/3 innings last Wednesday, his first loss in more than a month.

Georgia high court says bonds for Braves stadium are valid

By - Associated Press - Monday, June 29, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the authorization of up to $397 million in bonds to build a new baseball stadium for the Braves in Cobb County.

Three Cobb County residents opposed the authorization and appealed a Cobb County Superior Court ruling approving the bond issuance to the high court.

In the unanimous opinion published Monday, Justice David Nahmias wrote that an intergovernmental contract used to authorize the bonds is valid. He also wrote that the issuance of the bonds does not violate the state’s Constitution or revenue bond laws and that the process used to validate the bonds was not improper.

The Braves announced in November 2013 that they would be leaving Turner Field near downtown Atlanta for a new stadium to be built in Cobb County near the interchange of interstates 285 and 75. The team plans to begin playing at the stadium, called SunTrust Park, for the 2017 season.

The three Cobb residents who challenged the bonds - Larry Savage, Richard Pellegrino and attorney T. Tucker Hobgood - argued the lower court judge’s ruling validating the bonds was incorrect. They argued that the agreement between the county and the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority is not a valid intergovernmental agreement; that the project improperly uses public tax revenue for a private facility; and that the bonds can’t be approved without a referendum.

Monday’s opinion says it’s clear that those who sought the bonds “relied on the prior decisions of this Court interpreting Georgia’s Constitution and revenue bond law when structuring the financing for the new Braves stadium project.” While “aspects of the deal structure at issue may push the law about as far as it can go, it does not cross the line into illegality,” the opinion says.

The opinion also says it does not discount the concerns that the three Cobb residents raised “about the wisdom of the stadium project and the commitments Cobb County has made to entice the Braves to move there.” But it says those concerns have to do with public policy controlled by elected officials.