If it's Monday, then it's the Atlanta Braves fan confidence poll. As always, 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 | 43 comments
Knowing that we have guys like Minor, Kimbrel, Marek, and now Freeman ready to come up and contribute at any time has raised my vote.
ATLandUNC - August 9, 2010
Still a 10
We have weathered all of our injuries so far this year and there is no reaso to think we can’t get through the injury to Medlen. I ahev been sayinf go a while that Minor could fill the role of an emergency/spot starter, even when he was still at Mississippi. I guess we will find out tonight.
Basing my vote on organizational depth, as well as what the big club is doing, only a 10 will suffice.
DawgB - August 9, 2010
OK.....
I can agree till you get to medlen issues, I just hope Minor can be just effective as medlen but I have more doubts in that and KK is just a gamble for 5 inning pitcher.
Hanson-Ace - August 9, 2010
I’m not saying he will be an ace, but I have reason to believe Minor will be a serviceable 5th starter for the rest of the year. I just don’t think the injury to Medlen will be a back-breaker.
DawgB - August 9, 2010
Still a 7. Until this team can score 5 or more runs on back to back nights, I will be a little worried about the state of the offense. Here’s hoping Minor can come out swinging (or pitching) tonight against the LOLstros.
Also, why is that “NL East Rivals” chat up? Why didn’t someone from our blog participate? After all, we are in first place, and one of the teams that did participate is 9 freaking games back. Weird. I guess we did get that one chat with nobody from our blog when we traded Esco. I wonder how long this new one will stay on the screen taking up real estate?
BullManUGA - August 9, 2010
Still and 8.....
Phillies got themselves another ace at the same time the Braves lose their best hitter and they’re still in 1st place. I’ll worry when we’re not in 1st place anymore…..
And with rosters about to expand and the possibility of Freeman contributing before seasons end boosts my confidence a bit more. But even if Freeman is kept down, Matt Young HAS to be brought up in September, right? We could definitely use a guy with OBP skills and speed in center….
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
an 8*
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
Bring Freeman Up
This team needs the kid. Free Freddie
FreddieFreemanTime - August 9, 2010
Agreed. Freeman would help Glaus etc. Get him up here.
taney71 - August 9, 2010
this is all you've done since you joined this blog
stop
kbertling353 - August 9, 2010
It is true. The only posts I have done since I joined maybe a week ago is say bring Freeman up. That is probably the only thing that the Braves need to do. Sorry if I have offended your eyes by saying what 75% of the blogs are saying
For you kbertling353 Jason Heyward is the man. Happy Birthday Jason
FreddieFreemanTime - August 9, 2010
7
Give Freeman a shot = 8
Get Prado healthy = 9
Fend off the Phillies = 10
Buffalo Braves - August 9, 2010
What happened to the FCP last week?
I haven’t seen last weeks average, looked like it might drop a little from the raw data.
bighop - August 9, 2010
Braves are having trouble with RISP lately, correct?
I think they may have found the cure for it…..
Bud Norris’s stats allowed with RISP:
124 PA’s
53 ER
.364 AVG
.446 OBP
.556 SLG
1.002 OPS
I hope Bobby doesn’t play splits too much tonight, as Norris is horrible against both lefties and righties. Braves should have no problem with Norris as he’s VERY hittable and walks a lot of guys. He racks up the K’s, but the Braves should be fine as long as they stay patient.
But you never know what you’re going to get with a rookie starter making his big-league debut with only a few months of professional ball under his belt. If he can keep it close, Braves got this game.
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
.....but having said that.....
…..the 3B coach needs to send EVERY runner from 2B on a single, even if it doesn’t reach the outfield. A pitch in the dirt with a runner at 3B? Send him home even if the catcher blocks it. Infield pop-up with a runner on 3B and less than 2 outs? Send him home…..
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
I’m looking for 6 strong innings from Minor tonight. Maybe one rough inning, but I think we will get a quality start from him. Lots going for him. He’s a lefty, which negates the short leftfield porch in Houston. The game will be indoors, so no weather issues. He’s facing one of the worst offenses in the major leagues. And even though he has about 1 full season of pro ball under his belt, he did pitch in college in the SEC, which is a highly competitive conference.
DawgB - August 9, 2010
whew aggressive ain't we?
bravestatoo - August 9, 2010
oh yeah...
I had to say 8…still smarting from losing road series to Nats….I will raise it to 9 if we sweep the Strohs…uhhhh maybe not…as long as they stay ahead of the phills and at least sweep someone other than the Strohs on the road?
bravestatoo - August 9, 2010
Rolling with a Nine
Until the warden free Freddie Freeman from his AAA prison, the organization will stay at a 9 for me. (Plus the FO/Management really botched that KK situation. What a shame.) On a positive, I love the fact that the underrated things (the bullpen, bench, and farm) are probably the reason why we are amazing organization right now. Go Bravos!
romone_braves91 - August 9, 2010
As well as Infante has been playing
Any words on when Prado will get back? Is he going to be ready to come off the DL in a week when he is eligible?
LEastCoastBears - August 9, 2010
All-Star Omar
Another reason I voted 10
DawgB - August 9, 2010
Anyone else getting sick of hearing about Carlos Gonzalez?
He looks like a talented young kid, but Coors Field has SO much to do with his success at the plate. Look at these splits….
Home: .375, .414, .730, 1.144, 19 HR, 220 PA’s
Away: .282, .295, .437, .732, 6 HR, 220 PA’s
Basically, he’s been Frenchy away from Coors. Granted, last year he had an OPS slightly above .800 away from Coors, but in just 42 games. Sorry, but I’m not ready to crown this kid as one of the best young hitters in the game and the future of that organization just yet…..
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
No.
The kid’s a stud.
-C
cthabeerman - August 9, 2010
Meh....
Like I said, he looks like a solid player. But those splits are pretty damn alarming…..
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
If you have those numbers, who cares.
Scott Coleman - August 9, 2010 via mobile
I'm talking in terms of talent....
Yes, he’s putting up fantastic overall numbers. But I keep hearing how he’s already one of the best hitters in the game, etc. I just haven’t seen anything from him to suggest that, that’s all.
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
Watch him play at Coors...
And you’ll see plenty to suggest he’s one of the best hitters in the game.
Fortunately, Coors is a 10-minute drive for me, so I can see him regularly. And he’s regularly great there. You can expect him to produce every game.
Coors Field is without a doubt a hitter’s ballpark, but it’s no bandbox. The ball only carries if you hit it hard. It’s bigger than Turner Field in most places, with Turner’s cavernous gaps being the exception.
A tall fly out on the warning track in Turner is going to be caught in the outfield at Coors. The wind usually blows in when it’s blowing, most people don’t realize that actually keeps a bunch of those high fly balls in the park. The key is to drive the ball, which is exactly what CarGo does.
So, say what you will about his hitting at Coors, but those home runs are still doubles and triples at any other park.
-C
cthabeerman - August 9, 2010
So what's your theory.....
….on the outrageous splits?
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
Most guys play better at home than on the road, and maybe CarGo just really thrives at home with the 40,000 fans cheering him on.
Scott Coleman - August 9, 2010 via mobile
A couple things, other than normal home advantage.
First, he protects the plate considerably better at home. 47 home games to 50 road games, but he has 31 fewer Ks at home. That’s a pretty crazy statistic when you think about it.
Second, a combo of LD and FB%. These are subjective stats, but Gonzalez tends to hit the ball hard. I’m willing to wager that his FB% is not your prototypical lazy fly because he tends to get solid contact.
Either way, his GB% at home is 10.5% less, his LD% is up 5.5% and his FB is up 5.0%. A FB hit hard is just a LD by another name. Between the LD and FB and Coors’ thin air, you can easily account for the rest of the split. Hit the ball hard, and you’ll get on base.
-C
cthabeerman - August 9, 2010
Bell-shaped curve
much?
animalcracker - August 9, 2010
with a great deal of positive Kurtosis, perhaps
.
Londonjoe - August 9, 2010
Voted an 8, but I honestly should have voted a 9 when I thought about it some more. Just a whole lot of good going on in the organization.
Sparhawk - August 9, 2010
Reds got Jim Edmonds from the Brewers awhile a go...
Wouldn’t have minded the Braves taking a shot at the guy(before the Ankiel deal). He’s having a pretty good year in limited time.
Undocorkscrew - August 9, 2010
9, as it's been since July 1st.
Scott Coleman - August 9, 2010 via mobile
cool
kbertling353 - August 9, 2010
9
up from an 8, which I’ve had for the last 6 weeks or so.
I think we have the best pitching staff in baseball, Medlen or not.
Fatvirus - August 9, 2010
Agreed on the pitching
JJ goes down, we plug in Medlen. KK stinks it up, we keep Medlen in the rotation. Meds goes down, we plug in Minor. We just moved up a couple of more good arms to Gwinnett. And let’s not forget the pen. Wags, Venters, Saito, Moylan, Farnsworth (if they ever let him pitch), Dunn, EOF when he gets back and Kimbrel with his 17 saves in AAA.
DawgB - August 9, 2010
9
MBL1 - August 9, 2010
I’m a 22 this week.
Unfortunately, the poll does not go that high.
UMDBHIK - August 9, 2010
I went down to an 8 at the deadline and am still there for the following reasons:
1. Poor deadline moves
2. Terrible handling of Kawakami
3. Trading Esco for Gonzalez
That being said, I still think we have a great shot at a title this season – if everyone gets out of whatever slumps they are in.
justincredubil02 - August 10, 2010
+1 to #2.
John Holton - August 10, 2010
Staying at 8, but if Farnsworth is given another chance and blows it, it goes down to 7.
John Holton - August 10, 2010
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