After three straight fortnights of decline in the Atlanta Braves Fan Confidence Poll, the fans have finally turned that off-season frown upside down. The FCP jumped from 65% two weeks ago to 70% this week, not the highest level of the off-season, but an improvement over the downward trend that has plagued the Braves most of the hot stove season.
The turnaround is likely a result of the reality of finality settling in. The Braves have announced they are done making moves and the team you see is the team you will have. The full impact of the Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske signings could also be a factor in this turnaround. Glaus and Hinske are proven veterans who fill big holes in the Braves lineup and bench, and fill them with a lot of promise.
I expect the FCP will continue to creep up as we approach spring training. This is a result of more and more people taking a look at our roster and realizing that it is likely better than the one we went into spring training with last season.
0 recs | 32 comments
Improvement
It is tons better. Especially at 1st base. I’m very excited to have a power hitting 1st baseman in the middle of the line-up. Moe RBI’s for everyone.
rcates - January 11, 2010
It tend to agree
in having a someone that will actually protect chipper in the line up which IMO will let chipper have a more productive year closer to 08’ numbers. As long as Glaus can stay healthy and play 140+ games than this team will be in the hunt. Depth will be important in not losing a offensive beat when Chipper/Glaus/Mac need to take a day off with Infante/Hinske/Ross more than able to step in and not be a black hole in the lineup. But the best thing about this years line up is that we are more balanced with more RH bats in line up and off the bench is a big plus…
Hanson-Ace - January 11, 2010
i don't think there's any doubt about it
we’re a much better team now then we were this time last year.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
But is that the comparison?...
Is it to what we were at the beginning of last year? The end? Than we “could have been” this year?
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2010
if
Chipper and Glaus are healthy, i think we’re better than we were at any time last season. but if Chipper and/or Glaus aren’t healthy, then we’re probably worse than last year.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
That if
has my “fan confidence” level staying within reason
Mark Lempke - January 11, 2010
same here, even if i was feeling jolly and voted 8 last time.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
IF A-Rod gets hurt then the Yankees are worse than they were last year.
If Holliday gets hurt, the Cardinals are worse than they were last year.
If Fielder gets hurt, the Brewers are worse than they were last year.
If Lincecum is hurt, the Giants are worse than they were last year.
I mean, we can literally say this about every team. At THIS POINT, the Atlanta Braves are better than they were at the end of last year. The bench is much improved, the OF much improved (both on the defensive side and offensive) and the BP is much improved.
Until these players actually get hurt, we can not say we are worse. It is stupid to say “Well, so-and-so MIGHT get hurt, so we are worse.”
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
i don’t think the bullpen is much improved. We’re relying on two 40 year olds who have had health concerns recently, and Soriano and Gonzo were pretty damn good last year.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
Soriano and Gonzo were also both pretty damn big questionmarks last year too.
Wagner is better than both, Saito is at worst, equal to Gonzo.
None of the 4 are going to win a Lance Armstrong award anytime soon.
The Bullpen is more than just your top 2 or 3 guys. The rest of our BP is undeniably better than 2009s BP.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
i bet Wagner won’t have a better 2010 than Soriano had last season. $5 bet?
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
I bet Soriano wont have a 2010 better than he had a 2009. wanna put $10 on that?
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
No, cause Soriano isn’t on the Braves anymore. But the Wagner bet still stands if you’re interested
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010
By what measure do we determine better?...
if it’s simple ERA, Wagner has had a mere 1 season worse than Soriano’s ERA last year. If we’re using FIP, Wagner was actually better than Soriano last year too.
And either way, Soriano of 2009 wasn’t an option for this year. Only the 2010 models were available.
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2010
Soriano and Gonzo also had "health concerns recently"...
and Soriano’s worsening monthly splits, when combined with Bobby’s use, had to increase concern. Same can go with Gonzalez’s inconsistency.
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2010
Which health concern did Saito have recently?
Last I checked, Soriano had arm surgery more recently than Wagner.
MichaelProcton - January 15, 2010
In respect to those guys...
the probability they get hurt is not on the same level as our main players.
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2010
Every player has a probability that they get hurt. Why are we even arguing this? It is ridiculous. Glaus passed a physical. He is in the best shape in years. Chipper is coming off a season in which he played the most games out of all of our roster.
Until these guys get hurt, they are healthy. When they are healthy, we are awesome. Until they get hurt, we are awesome. They are not hurt. We are awesome.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
Holliday, Lincecum, Fielder...
are all coming off years injury years? News to me! For Glaus to be mentioned in the same breath as the players you listed is a stretch. To actually compare the 4? Insanity. Settle down Justin. We have an injury prone starting lineup right now. Where and when did I say we were worse?? I said I was keeping my expectations in check, as I would rather be pleasantly surprised than any sort of disappointed.
On to your point that we could say this about any team… you’re right, someone could. However, how many teams have signed two players coming off major injuries that factor that will close out games and bat clean up? Hmm bigshot assclown?
Mark Lempke - January 11, 2010
Well, if I were actually talking about your post, you would have a point. I was not replying to you, so you don’t have a point.
Who’s the clown now?justincredubil02 - January 12, 2010
Uhh...
Didn’t both of the players you mention play last year? In the playoffs? Strikes me they wouldn’t have seen much use if they weren’t healthy.
MichaelProcton - January 15, 2010
The season is 162 games long.
If we can play at, say, level 7.5 all season, this is still a better team than the one that played at a 6 for 75% of the season and an 8 for the last quarter.
MichaelProcton - January 14, 2010
I disagree
Aside from Glaus I think our team is worse off with Vasquez gone.
taney71 - January 11, 2010
Even with Hudson replacing Vazquez, and having Mr. Tommy Hanson for a full season?
I think our rotation is easily best in the East, ifso facto, one of the best in baseball.
Mark Lempke - January 11, 2010
I agree. I feel that our rotation is at worst the same as last year. Everyone forgets that Hudson is a better pitcher then Vasquez when you look at career numbers. Vasquez was great for us last year but I prefer this rotation. You can’t forget that Hudson is the ace of this staff and that will remain. The best thing is that the pitcher who had the worst year for us last year won 15 games and pitched way below his potential. This is going to be a great year for Braves fans.
rcates - January 11, 2010
Agreed. This team looks pretty good on paper, but very injury prone (Glaus, Hudson, Wagner, Saito, Moylan, and Chipper). The ’08 team was likewise filled with veterans and health risks and it turned out about as bad as it could have. I have my doubts that this team, as constructed, can suffer many injuries and make it through a season.
With that being said, I’m ready for some ball to be played!
soup du jour - January 11, 2010
I believe Wren has taken calculated risks with these ‘injury prone’ players, but also done a fine job of making sure Bobby has interchangeable parts to work with… as if he assumes they will happen and has provided multiple viable contingency options:
Chipper – backed up by Glaus, Hinske, and Infante.
Glaus – Hinske and M Jones
McCann – Ross and Sammons
Esco/Prado – Infante, Hernandez, Conrad
Outfield – Diaz, Melky, McLouth, Heyward, Hinske, Blanco
Wagner – Saito
Saito – Moylan, EOF, Dunn?, et al
Medlan backs up the rotation.
In short, the rotation and bullpen should be fine, but it’s the depth of the backup crew and the substantially improved end-of-game options that make the team better — offensively and defensively. That should help keep more leads and pull out some late wins that eluded the Braves in ’09.
carpengui - January 11, 2010
Medlen.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
Prado can even fill in for Chipper or Glaus, too. I wouldn’t suggest, though, that Sammons is much of a contingency plan. Hernandez and Conrad are not guys I want to see spending much time on the 25, either.
MichaelProcton - January 15, 2010
Vasquez for Glaus, Hinske and Cabrera?
Am I the only one who isn’t pleased with this exchange? I thought that the goal this offseason was to get a plus bat in the lineup and we ended up with a huge question mark at first and two replacement level players. The comparison shouldn’t be this year’s lineup compared to last year’s crummy lineup, but rather this year’s lineup compared to good lineups. Philly’s still lightyears ahead of us.
freekhalidelamin - January 11, 2010
The only questionmark at first base is whether Glaus will hit 30 Hrs or 37 Hrs.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
I will be the first to admit, i was skeptical and downright negative a few weeks back. But i gave it a lot of thought and feel the team has good depth, a great bench, and hands down the best pitching staff in the division. I’m starting to feel pretty good and am trusting Glaus is as healthy a he says and Chipper will shut up all his naysayers. Plus McCann’s bat gets better each year and a full year of Hanson and Huddy more than compensate for the loss of Vazquez. Additionally, these days, TJ surgery is so advanced guys typically come back stronger.
HansonManCrush - January 11, 2010 via mobile
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