ATLANTA -- Unhappy over the conditions of the Turner Field infield, Atlanta Braves players are considering contacting the players' union to see if they can pressure their own club to make improvements, a source within the organization told ESPN on Thursday.
The source speculated that with the Braves leaving Turner Field for a new stadium after this season, the playing surface is not being treated with the same meticulous care as in the past and that the problem areas are the uneven grass and the unpredictable area where the turf meets the infield dirt.
The Braves were affected in the opening homestand of the season when shortstop Erick Aybar, a Gold Glove winner in 2011, made two errors in the first four home games. His second error came on April 9, when the Braves and Cardinals combined to make six miscues.
The Los Angeles Dodgers would tend to agree after the first two games of a three-game series that ends Thursday.
"This is a tough infield," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "You look at Dodger Stadium versus this field, and this field, the guys talk about it around the league that it is not the best infield as far as playing."
The Dodgers, who don't want to make excuses for their play, have committed four errors in the first two games of the series and all of them have been on the left side of the infield. Justin Turner made two fielding errors at third base Tuesday, while shortstop Corey Seager made one fielding miscue Tuesday and another Wednesday.
"The field has changed a little bit over the years," Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley said. "There are some tricky hops out there, but overall, I thought we played good defense."
Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal was asked if there was talk among the Dodgers players about the condition of the infield.
"We talked about it," Grandal said after a long pause. "Behind home plate, I felt it was very soft. But then again, it's not our home field. It all depends on how the infielders like it here. We just have to adjust to every playing field we go to and make plays. Obviously it was a little hard for us the last two days, making a couple of errors, but that's all right."
The Dodgers will start Charlie Culberson in place of Turner on Thursday afternoon.