There is a certain resiliency to the Braves, and their fans certainly feel the same way. After an exciting, then disappointing finish to the regular season, the Atlanta Braves Fan Confidence Rating has climbed in each off-season sampling. The last in-season poll had the FCP at 64, then a climb to 70, then 72, and finally this week it reached 76 -- the highest the poll has been at any point since it was begun at the beginning of last season.

The signing of Tim Hudson certainly could have played a role in this turnaround, as the Braves and their fans now know that they will have the talented pitcher around for three to four more years, and that they also have the rotation flexibility to go out and trade one of their spare starting pitchers to fill other needs on the team.

The next poll will go up on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.