If it's Friday, then it's the Atlanta Braves fan confidence poll. This poll and therefore your confidence level should encompasses several areas of the team. These areas include, but are not limited to, the team’s ownership, current management, talent, minor-league system, and general playing ability on the field. The poll will stay open for 48 hours, and then the results will be posted and graphed against the previous weeks.
0 recs | 20 comments
Back to a 7, Rationale:
McLouth move makes a big improvement on paper for 1 of 3 outfield positions, leaving us now with 1 solid spot, 1 decent spot, and 1 remaining black hole. Also, on paper, we have the best possible pitching staff that the organization can assemble — Hanson in the rotation and Medlen bumping out awful relievers like Carlyle / JoJo / Parr, etc. Hanson has been hyped to the moon, but I’m withholding 8-10 in confidence until I see him win games, and pitch well and consistently at the MLB level. Quite frankly, I’m tired of the AAA hype we’ve been giving these pitchers only to bring them up and watch them suck.
Finally, nobody is saying anything, but we are now a season-high 6 games out of first behind the Phillies, who despite an awful pitching staff continue to win games. The Braves have played the softest schedule of any team in baseball to this point, so we have a long way to go, and only good / better teams to do it against.
fphjr01 - June 5, 2009
Agreed.
Smoltz's Beard - June 5, 2009
I'm at a high 6
but I nearly jumped to 7 bc I really liked the trade.
Frank Wren still has a ways to go to get out of the hole I’ve put him in, but that was a good start climbing out.
13thieves - June 5, 2009
Down to 3, sending down Barton is a big mistake!!!!
But yeah, up to 8, because of the solid steps forward the front office took on Wednesday. Getting the Pirates to give up McLouth at this point in the season for the package that he did, Wren did a helluva job. The Glavine deal was bittersweet to me, but i don’t think anyone can disagree that Hanson isn’t the better choice for rotation to win now.
10-4 - June 5, 2009
I expect a big jump from the last poll. I’ve voted 7 in every poll, and I went 7 again here. I almost went up to an 8, and if the McClouth trade makes a difference on the field, it will be an 8.
eaheckman10 - June 5, 2009
8
The swagger is back. If not the Swagga.
MichaelProcton - June 5, 2009
My confidence jumped. My reasons in order are:
#1. Cutting Glavine. So painful to see the end of that era, and Glav will always be special, but it HAD TO BE DONE. The Front office has set a new precidence.
#2. The McLouth Trade: The FO proved it could make a deal happen for an important piece AND keep the budget intact.
Andy Braves Fan - June 5, 2009
precedent star
MichaelProcton - June 5, 2009
8
Because Wren is demonstrating some cojones with some cut-throat personnel management, with the bigger picture in mind.
Sure, it comes to at the expense of some temporary PR and hurt feelings to some veteran players, but as a fan, I sleep a lot better after a Braves win. I respect the courage Wren has demonstrated with such moves, when a character like Schuerholz might have been more prone to fan emotion and long-time allegiances. Although those are important too, I like Wren’s ability to see past them.
What really sucks for me is future Gwinnett trips are going to be far more diluted with the losses of Medlen and Hanson, and Morton to boot, but I imagine the fluctuation of power among all of MiLB this time of year is a reoccurring thing.
royhobbs - June 5, 2009
7
I had been holding steady at 7 all year, then dropped to 6 last week because it appeared management was just going to ignore the pathetic outfield. The trade for McLouth and the decision to waive Glavine and bring Jesus Hanson(or Tommy Christ, whichever you prefer) up brought my confidence back up to a 7. A good week by the team, some good looking batting orders, I might even be up to an 8 next week.
Rhyno18 - June 5, 2009
I love the moves Wren has made this week. My vote went back up to 8. It’ll go higher when he does something about Jeff Francoeur.
redwards95 - June 5, 2009
I’m at 8 based on the superb trade for McLouth, Glavine’s surprising release , Hanson finally being called up and put in the rotation, and the staying of the course (so far) with Francoeur and continuing to keep him in the lineup.
fandave - June 5, 2009
I’ve voted 7 the entire season, but the moves this week finally proved that the front office is willing to make the tough decisions that needed to be made. I’m voting 9 this week.
17843 - June 5, 2009
I’ve been a 7 all year, and I’ll keep it there. But I, too, would become a 9 if Wren addressed the Francoeur situation. Literally, anything. He could run Brian Jordan out there and I’d bump up to a 9. I’d rather have Mondesi. I’d rather Ross catch every game and have McCann patrol RF. I could go on.
I might go 10 if we somehow got a Willingham or someone like him. But I’m not holding my breath.
Weldon - June 5, 2009
8
Clearly the Braves upper management are trying to make the playoffs this year. The pitching staff is as strong as it can be on paper. The outfield is still a problem. All season every OF option that i’ve heard on here are no where near Nate McClouth (Nick Swisher, Xavier Nady, Josh Willingham, Cody Ross, etc) production and contract-wise. Good move by Wren. Bad PR move on the Glavine thing, but the future is now.
Mighty Healthy - June 5, 2009
7
I’ve been bouncing between 6 and 7 all year but seeing that we started to try and make changes to the outfield makes me feel better. If the team can stop the win-lose-win-lose-win-lose pattern it would probably jump to an 8.
BullManUGA - June 5, 2009
Back up to 7, so close to an 8.
Bout time they sent down Schafer.
Love the trade.
Love releasing Glavine and calling up Hanson.
I’ll definitely be higher once I see Hanson pitch and McLouth play.
I’d be an instant 10 if they can figure out what to do with Failcoeur.
Sparhawk - June 5, 2009
8
Get rid of a bum 43 year old, call up a stud 23 year old and trade for an all-star, nice week for the Braves.
Scott Coleman - June 5, 2009
7
was down to 5 last week, but wren is showing he knows what hes doing and the farm is still looking great
dc_allday - June 5, 2009
8…we haven’t had a horrible week record-wise, and we made some nice roster moves
bigjoe - June 5, 2009
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