Atlanta Braves Fan Confidence Levels Out

by gondeee on Jun 11, 2010 8:38 AM EDT

After three straight weeks of gain (to the point of surging), the Atlanta Braves Fan Confidence Poll made a slight course correction en route to what is likely a leveling off. The confidence went from 82% to 80% this week, helped by the tough play of the NL West and the perception that the Braves bats are starting to cool down.

This is probably a good course correction, as we don't want to seem overly confident in our team. After all, there are still some major holes and question makes in both the lineup, rotation, and bullpen. Over the next week the Braves will face the best and the worst of the American League, as they tee off against the first place Rays and Twins, and the second-to-last-place Royals.

If the team plays good and wins series against these team, then we should see the fan confidence go up. On the other hand, it could be a rough week. Playing two tough teams in the Rays and Twins will tell us if this Braves team can hang with other first place clubs.

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anyone who voted over a 5 is a fool

its all smoke and mirrors

We have traded away great players for less than nothing and let Texierra walk away, and much much more so pray that Hayward is sent from God and that his energy can ignite the veterans and cause the younger players to hustle more and play winning baseball...

by bpk228480 on Jun 11, 2010 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

Just to clarify, I am a fool

by bpk228480 on Jun 11, 2010 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

We knew that already….

"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones

by MBL1 on Jun 11, 2010 2:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Still very concerned that Chipper looks like crap at the plate, and that Bobby still has waaaaaaaaaaay too much faith in Nate McLouth.

But good news, we’re still in first and west coast games are over!! Time to sleep regular hours again! Woo Woo!

"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson

by 10-4 on Jun 11, 2010 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

I voted 10. This poll takes in not only the play of the major league team, but the organization as a whole. Just look at all the promising young arms. If half of them pan out, we are in great shape for years to come. We do need someone to take over for Chipper when he retires, but we have some good bench players right now. It may be the best bench in basebvall. Look at how they performed yesterday. We have been getting consistently good performances from our role players. We are getting ready to have the 6th starter problem again when JJ comes back.

4-4 on a west coast swing is pretty good. Most bloggers here said they would be happy going 6-5 on this trip. We are in a very good position to do just that. And we are still in first place.

by DawgB on Jun 11, 2010 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

I've been an 8 for a while now.

I know my mood will certainly improve now that I may actually get to sleep before 1:30 am. This has been a rough road trip to endure with nail biters almost every game and not being able to exhale until the very last out. I think we should be able to go back home after this weekend with .500 or perhaps better for the road trip.

The Phillies have to play Boston this weekend then the Yankees, Minnesota and Cleveland.
The Mets play Baltimore this weekend then Cleveland, the Yankees and Detroit.

I think our schedule is an opportunity for us to win more than we lose and hopefully the AL will beat up on the Phils and Mets a little for us.

"Curve: The loveliest distance between two points." ~ Mae West

by NCChopper on Jun 11, 2010 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

I'll guess...

win 2 of 3 in Minnesota, and it’ll stay around 80% next week. Lose 2 of 3 or worse, and it drops back closer to 70.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 11, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been voting an 8 myself as I have confident that most of the team is coming around. Having said that, McLouth is not the long term option in CF and he may be even worse now the rest of the season after suffering the “Hewyard Hit”. I just hope that maybe that hit corrected his vision and his stance at the plate.

Chipper’s lack of any power and lack of ability to hit singles even in big clutch spots like he did in 2008 is starting to worry me quite a bit. Glaus has stepped up big, and McCann is starting to turn it around (I think his vision issues are going to be problems ongoing in his career, and as much as I like him we need to start hoping Betancourt starts hitting so he can be a replacement in possibly 3-4 years.

LF is still a revolving door although Hinske has really done well there, but he’s not an everyday player it seems, and he is left handed. Unfortunately we really don’t have a good OF prospect other than Schafer in the minors who can help us in that department.

Oh, and gondee, one correction: After all, there are still some major holes and question makes in both the lineup, rotation, and bullpen

I think you meant “questions marks” not makes. ;-)

by Dave_D on Jun 11, 2010 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

I still am at an 8, mainly because this organization is doing good—but not great. If not for the Phillies awful play, we wouldn’t be in first right now. Glaus is awesome as of late, but I’m disappointed since Heyward is only hitting singles.

The team is doing well as a whole, and I’m confident we can contend for first for the rest of the season.

Jason Heyward is the reason that Chuck Norris parks his car in a garage.

by Joseph_C on Jun 11, 2010 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

What do you want from Heyward?

10 HR, 42 RBI and batting around .270. 2 RBI singles yesterday. The kid is a rookie. My pre-season projectios for him were .270, 18-20 HR and 80-90 RBI. He seems pretty well on track to meet or exceed that. He is a rookie after all.

by DawgB on Jun 11, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Head-scratcher right here:

If not for the Phillies awful play, we wouldn’t be in first right now

I’m thinking maybe winning 35 games (& not losing a series in over a month) has some bearing on it as well. I don’t know, call me crazy…..

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Jun 11, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

How bout the 9 game losing streak the Braves overcome? We have played like crap too. These things even out

by ATLBRVS_19 on Jun 11, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

My Rating Fluctuates Daily!

Some days I’m off the charts, then other days I think I’m almost into the negative numbers. The good thing is there are more off the chart days! I keep a steady 7-8.

by TCfromDubVee on Jun 11, 2010 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

I'm voting a 7

I like how the organization’s going but I just feel like there is a major lack of power throughout. Heyward will be great in that regard, but who else in the organization is going to hit 30-35 HRs year in and year out at the major league level? That being said, if we don’t have the deepest pitching depth in all of baseball I want to know who does.

It's hard to say what's been most impressive. The seamless jump from AA? The ability to hit for average? The ability to hit for power? The 18 walks in 111 trips to the plate? The flair for the dramatic? When you're trying to isolate the most impressive aspect of Jason Heyward's game, there's a lot to choose from, and it's only been a month and a half.

by Richie Grogan on Jun 11, 2010 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

not many teams have multiple guys that hit 30-35 homers a year

by telemakhos on Jun 11, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

last year, there were only 30 people that hit 30 homers or more. The teams with multiple guys on that list are milwaukee (fielder and braun), philly (howard, werth, ibanez, and utley), tampa bay (pena and longoria), yankees (tex and aroid), washington (dunn and zimmerman), toronto (hill and lind), detroit (cabrera and granderson), texas (cruz and kinsler), and minnesota (cuddyer and morneau).

of those duos (in philly’s case, a quartet), the nationals, blue jays, rangers, twins, rays, and tigers don’t stand the test of time because one or more of the listed hitters had never hit 30 home runs before.

So that leaves just 3 teams with multiple consistent 30 home run guys in their lineups.

by telemakhos on Jun 11, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I

by Richie Grogan on Jun 11, 2010 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm just saying

I don’t think there’s enough power in the organization

by Richie Grogan on Jun 11, 2010 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Glaus??

Year-in and year-out, he has in the past. He’s not guaranteed to stay, but you can’t deny his production when healthy throughout most of his career. He’s on pace for about 30 this season.

Hopefully we can find a way to keep him around for another season or two…

-C

by cthabeerman on Jun 11, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions