Bruce Baldwin wears two Braves hats. He has been the Richmond Braves' general manager since 1987 and will continue in that capacity through 2008, scheduled to be the last here for Atlanta's Triple-A club after a 43-year affiliation.

Baldwin is also supervising the launch of the operation in Gwinnett County, Ga., where the Braves are moving next season. The R-Braves, defending International League champions, open their season Thursday at The Diamond.

The Richmond area's lack of a firm plan for replacing The Diamond caused Atlanta to seek another venue for its Triple-A outpost. Baldwin concedes he's "stuck in the middle" this season. About a week before the R-Braves played their first game of 2008, Baldwin sat down to discuss what will be a different kind of baseball season here.

Have the Richmond Braves, as an organization, adopted a general approach to 2008?

"I think the real question is, 'Do we just settle into the sunset, or do we make it a final celebration?' What we're afraid of is that some people will perceive [a celebration] as throwing [the relocation] in their face. And that's not what we want. At all."

Is there a plan in place to make the 2008 season a commemoration of 1966-2008?

"One of the most difficult things we have to put our arms around is that. We're struggling with how to do that. . . . We're very much aware that some people just don't care [about R-Braves' history]. We're also very much aware that some people really do care."

You've called the R-Braves' situation this season a "conundrum." What do you mean by that?

"We'd like to just go about our business and say, 'It's baseball and the Braves and The Diamond. Status quo.' But obviously, it isn't. We're not moving down the street in our community."

Are you the de facto GM of the Gwinnett Braves?

"Yes. Part of the problem is I'm running all over everywhere. Me and the airlines are becoming very good friends lately." Baldwin added that in recent months he has made weekly trips to Gwinnett County.

Have you found it difficult to juggle responsibilities in Richmond and Gwinnett?

"Yes. Extremely."

What functions are you performing for Gwinnett these days?

"I'm just working on stadium designs and things like that right now."

You have said that season-ticket sales have slightly increased compared to last season. How about interest in advertising with the R-Braves?

"We're not struggling. But it has been a little more arduous. . . . We've had some new accounts step up, too. It's really difficult for us to say, 'This is happening because we're leaving.' There could be other reasons."

The Braves may return to Richmond in 2009 if Gwinnett's stadium isn't ready. Are you optimistic that stadium will be ready for opening day 2009?

"No doubt in my mind."

Do you intend to address your players about the R-Braves' situation?

"Every year, we have a preseason meeting in the clubhouse and I talk about a litany of things, and I'm certainly going to talk about the situation this year. I am not going to tell our players that they can't speak to the media about the move. That serves no purpose. I will tell them the facts, as best as I know the facts. They have a job to do, and their job is to perform, and hone their skills, and create this cohesive team unit like we had last year."

Will there be ticket opportunities that are less expensive this season as the Braves' way of saying, "We really appreciate your support since 1966?"

"I hadn't thought about that."
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.