Let’s Play 2?

Could the R-Braves play the 2009 season at the Diamond instead of its new home in Gwinnett County, GA? It’s possible, but not likely.

An article in today’s RTD reports robust season ticket sales for the teams new home. In fact, Gwinnett has already accepted over 1,200 non-refundable deposits for seats in a stadium that has yet to be built.

According to Beth Marshall, director of public relations for the Atlanta Braves, ground has yet to be broken and no date has been set.

Should Gwinnett residents be worried? Not in the least bit. They live in a county that completed a deal to bring minor league baseball to its residents in less than a year - and in process sweeping the rug out from under the slow-moving Richmonders to the North.

Surely Gwinnett can build a stadium just as fast. What will stop them, the weather? Gwinnett is located in drought-stricken Georgia, a state that practically only allows the watering of lawns named Augusta National.

So unless there’s a shortage of lumber and concrete and CAT 4 cane barrels down on the burbs of Atlanta, R-Braves baseball in 2009 will be nothing more than the dreams of a few hundred fans, (Richmond’s mayor not included).