Perhaps the EKG-like pattern that the fan confidence in the Atlanta Braves has suffered all year is at an end. For the first time since late April, the Atlanta Braves Fan Confidence Poll has trended upwards for two consecutive weeks. Back in April it was only a one or two point increase per week, but these last two weeks have seen the fan confidence level go from 57% to 66% to its current 74%. That 74% is just two ticks below the confidence level that we started the season at (76%).
Let's see if the team can go down to Florida and win another series. We're currently tied with the Marlins for second in the East, so winning that series would give this team a big boost -- and no doubt boost the fan confidence as well.
0 recs | 32 comments
Life without Francoeur has been very good for us fans and our confidence.
redwards95 - July 27, 2009
This
Our patience at the plate has been contagious since Francy has left and McLouth has been grinding it out in the leadoff spot.
bbxxj - July 27, 2009 via mobile
Thats what Jim Powell was talking about on the radio yersterday. He said he had talked to TP and was talking about how happy Pendelton was that everyone was working the count more and having good at-bats. They where also trying to figure out why it took so long to take effect.
Unrelated: Mark Lemke doing play by play by himself is absolutely brutal. He’s about as excitable as a coma patient.
10-4 - July 27, 2009
Glad to see the Braves working the count more. Like Redwards95 said, life has been pretty good since Frenchy was traded.
and 10-4, I do agree with you about Lemke. I loved this guy as a player, one of my all-time favorite Braves too. But when I listen to the radio on the way home and the Braves channel is on 96.1 and Lemke starts to talk, I want to shoot my radio. Does he talk with chew in his mouth or something? He is pretty bad. I will give him credit cause he can carry a converstion. Watching Ron Gant and Brian Jordan on tv can be very awkward as they constantly mess up when they talk.
Love the former Braves players, but that doesn’t always translate well to a career in TV or Radio.
Sparhawk - July 27, 2009
i like it how the other guys make fun of mark for pigging out on ice cream and other junk food before the game and during rain delays
Bravely going forward - July 27, 2009
And maybe our record
we’re 10-4 without him
VivaLosBravos - July 27, 2009
The fan confidence poll is pointless.
Notice that every time we win a couple games in a row the fan confidence skyrockets. And whenever we lose a couple of games, it plummets. Most Braves fans are so fickle. Make up your minds people!
JurrjensFan - July 27, 2009
Its not really pointless if you take it for what it is. Fans will be fickle like this, there’s no doubt about it. You just can’t read too much into it, and instead look at it as a fun poll rather than something with scientific measures.
soup du jour - July 27, 2009
Agreed. And the frequency lends itself to large swings one way or the other because the fans tend to have the last couple of games on their mind when it’s time to vote.
Maybe continue to poll weekly but post the final number monthly? I don’t know the answer but if you’re gonna ask people once a week how they feel, be prepared for swings in mood to match what they see on the field.
Like sdj said, it’s all in fun.
NCChopper - July 27, 2009
It definitely pointless
The linear regression of the graph up top is nearly flat, which means it tells you that nothing has changed.
someguy917 - July 27, 2009
So? A flat linear regression does not imply pointless. I’d argue that you’re drawing more worth from the graph than I am, and I’m not calling it worthless.
soup du jour - July 27, 2009
I have been preaching the fickleness of some voters on here for a while – for example, during our bad losing stretch a few weeks ago, people were voting “1” and “2”! Seriously??? Nothing about this organization deserves to be ranked below a “5” IMO.
justincredubil02 - July 27, 2009
i give this post a 1.
10-4 - July 27, 2009
Is it everytime I see JurrjensFan make a post its all about negativity?
dabraves - July 27, 2009
The Lemmer really was the Home Star Runner of the Braves…
But yeah, his voice really doesn’t lend itself very well to the radio. Loved him as a Brave, but not so much as a color commentator for the Braves. The last few times I’ve listened to him and Jim Powell, it’s been Powell talking most of the time, and then Mark jumping in to say the exact same thing.
It’s really nice to see where the Braves are in the standing, as well as in the wild card. It’s hard to imagine we’re one game behind St. Louis (although they just got finished getting stomped in Phily…thanks Cards) and 1.5 games behind San Fran (thanks to ourselves and the Rox). Just need the Rockies to start losing since we don’t face them anymore this season…
award6 - July 27, 2009
Meant to be a reply to 10-4…
award6 - July 27, 2009
What
is the goal at this point? Are we still looking at the East or is the wildcard what we are striving for now?
Bens4vcobra - July 27, 2009
keep winning series is the goal. you do that and not worry about everything else.
Darin H - July 27, 2009
I agree
I think that right now we need to focus on taking 2 out 3 and 3 out of 4 in every series. We are making up ground in the wildcard relatively quickly and we still have 9 left against the Phils. I think that we are in good position to make the playoffs this year if we can keep playing like we have been in July.
michaelcooksey - July 27, 2009
The goal is to make the playoffs. The East is still winnable but would be very difficult. The Wild Card is the path of least resistance right now. Regardless the Braves just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing and win as many series as possible.
redwards95 - July 27, 2009
A note about an ex-Brave
The Royals are converting Tony Pena Jr. to a pitcher
was385 - July 27, 2009
just went back and watched the one inning he threw last year and it was pretty damn impressive for a position player. Threw from a strange sidearmish angle, threw his fastball at 89-91 with a lot of life, and actually threw a curve a number of times (including once to strike out pudge looking). Also, he made an amazing play on a chopper, though him being the slickest fielding pitcher in all of organized baseball is probably a given.
was385 - July 27, 2009
Test run for when the Mets trade them Francoeur?
redwards95 - July 27, 2009
8 for me
Gotta love the hot hitting, pitching and fielding along with some kids named Heyward and Freeman in the minors doing pretty well.
Scott Coleman - July 27, 2009
Reading TidBits on Braves site...
The good news about Infante gave me a bit of confidence boost, Bennett not so much.
I’m nervously looking forward to the Marlins series. It seems like we struggle against teams we should handle and beat those that should give us fits. Go figure.
NCChopper - July 27, 2009
Yay! Carlyle and Infante!
Boooo! Bennet!
FineHamAbounds - July 27, 2009
Can’t wait for Infante to be back in the lineup. Get rid of Norton cause he’s wasting space for Conrad.
Sparhawk - July 27, 2009
Er
I can’t remember the last time we were three games over .500, so IMO, this is certainly a marked improvement. Ever since we got rid of Frenchy, our team has begun to win series and the Mets…with their ‘Evil Empire-like’ payroll are sitting in fourth, wondering how such a disastrous season could happen to them. They deserve the mediocrity that Frenchy brings to their team and new Citi Field.
Oh, and Gooooooo Braves!!!
Doni S - July 27, 2009
Why does everyone hate Bennett?
If I can recall correctly, he was pitching pretty damn well for us.
JurrjensFan - July 27, 2009
his ERA was low
pitching well he was not however. He has a WHIP near two on the season, a fairly low strikeout rate, a high walk rate, and has given up a ton of hits. To his credit, he’s kept the ball in the park pretty well, but that’s about all he’s done well.
was385 - July 27, 2009
But he did have two pretty solid seasons for us before this year, too...
MichaelProcton - July 27, 2009
he pitched 13 innings in ‘07 so let’s call it one pretty decent season. But, relievers are fickle, especially journeymen like Bennett and Braves fans should know that more than anyone. You see if you can catch lightning in a bottle with some re-tread, ride them out, and then if it goes south, you just have to move on.
was385 - July 27, 2009
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