Fan Confidence Poll: September 28th, 2009

September 28, 2009 by Mike Axisa 92 Comments

Record Last Week: 5-1 (30 RS, 19 RA)
Season Record: 100-56 (883 RS, 724 RA), 8.5 games up, clinched AL East, best record in AL, best record in MLB
Opponents This Week: vs. Kansas City (3 games), @ Tampa (3 games)

Top stories from last week:

After a disappointing series loss in Seattle, the Yanks headed south to LAnaheim to try to exorcise their demons against the Angels. After dropping the first game on Monday thanks to some questionable bullpen moves, the Yanks picked up a much needed and hard fought win the next night, clinching a playoff spot in the process. AJ Burnett was strong and Ian Kennedy returned as the Yanks picked up the series win on Wednesday.
Joba Chamberlain kicked off a rather meaningless series against Boston (as meaningless as a Yanks-Sox series can be, anyway) with his best start in months, while Alex Rodriguez & Co. pounded Jon Lester. CC Sabathia was the man yet again the next day, then a clutch two-run single by Hideki Matsui gave the Yanks the sweep, the division, and home field advantage.
The start by Burnett was big because he had been a bit of a concern of late, and the same goes for Joba, who wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the playoff rotation. Sabathia has received some extra rest lately to keep him fresh for October.
David Robertson hoped to return from his elbow issue in time for the Sawx series, but it wasn’t meant to be. It looks like he’ll get into a game against the Royals, though.
Top 2007 international signee Kelvin DeLeon was named the second best prospect in the Rookie level Gulf Coast League.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

{democracy:52}

JSquared

I have Voted 10 every time, i think we might need an 11 now…
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph Pawlikowski
  - JSquared
    
    LoL.
  - Bob Stone
    
    That’s great. Perfect for how most of are feeling this morning.
    - yankeegirl49
      
      One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies!
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Confidence Level: 27
- Bob Stone
  
  I second that motion.
- Quikksand
  
  true
yankeegirl49

Went from a 9 to a 10…there is no stopping this team. Not this year and not in the near future.
Derby

I gave this team a 10 as well. If we can play in the playoffs as good as we played this past week, then there’s nothing stopping us!
UWS

Confidence level: 42.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Confidence Level: Sucka Got No Juice.
- JMK aka The Overshare
  
  http://rlv.zcache.com/no_juice_t_shirt-p235292616121530354cp0f_400.jpg
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    http://riveraveblues.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/shirtlarge.jpg
    - JMK aka The Overshare
      
      Do they sell those at Jos A Bank?
Brooklyn Ed

hmm, shouldn’t Cashman enlight the idea of bringing up Ajax now? Towers has no business doing here, and the most logical choice to be DFA.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Nah, don’t bother. Towers will be able to soak up a few innings while we’re up 7+ runs against either KC or TB. AJax wouldn’t play.
  
  Not necessary.
  - JSquared
    
    Agreed. I’d rather bring him up when he’s on a hot streak, not when he hasn’t played in a couple weeks.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      There’s only a week left. Might as well just wait until 2010 at this point.
      - JSquared
        
        Yeah, If someone ends up on the 15 day DL next year, hopefully it’s a spot A-Jax can fill, and there he will get to show what he has for 15+ games.
Reggie C.

10.

Mission isn’t over by a long shot, but the Yanks are going to polish off the year by the numbers.

AL East Division winners: CHECK
Best record in the AL: CHECK
Best record in MLB: CHECK
ALDS series win:
ALCS:
World Series:

If CC wins his 20th game, maybe the MSM remembers how irrelevant KC and Seattle have been this 2nd half of the season and give the Cy to our big fella.
- http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD
  
  If a Yankee wins either major ML award this year, it bill be bittersweet. Sure, it’s awesome that one of our guys won but they definitely shouldn’t have.
  - http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD
    
    That should read “either Major AL award.”
  - Brooklyn Ed
    
    in our dreams that the Yanks have won every award there is, from gold gloves to the Roberto Clemente award.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  If CC wins his 20th game, maybe the MSM remembers how irrelevant KC and Seattle have been this 2nd half of the season and give the Cy to our big fella.
  
  Mo, I hope not.
  
  Enjoying the right person win the award >>>>>>> Watching one of our guys get an award they don’t deserve
  - Bob Stone
    
    Totally agree. Let the best man win!
- JMK aka The Overshare
  
  If anyone not named Zach or Joe win the respective awards it will be a travesty.
- Riddering
  
  Personally, I will be wickity-whacked if Greinke doesn’t win the Cy.
  
  Derek and CC with rings and #2 and #3 in voting, respectively.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

The Yankees have no weaknesses.

Sincerely,
Theoretical John Kruk
- http://www.workwithpete.com Pete
  
  Gee, I think a salad for lunch sounds great!
  
  Sincerely,
  Theoretical John Kruk
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    Personal grooming is a passion of mine.
    
    Sincerely,
    Theoretical John Kruk
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      Extended warranty? Nah, I don’t need that.
      
      Sincerely,
      Theoretical John Kruk
      - JMK aka The Overshare
        
        My roommate is a bank robber.
        
        Sincerely,
        
        Non-Theoretical John Kruk
        
        Andy In Sunny Daytona
        
        I trust Lenny Dykstra with my retirement.
        
        Sincerely,
        
        Theoretical John Kruk
http://twitter.com/hopjake Jake H

A 9 again. Yankees beating the Sox to win the division was nice.
- JSquared
  
  The Red Sox’s spirits have to be back to what they were in the late 90’s early 2000’s.
- Bob Stone
  
  There’s just no pleasing some people.
  - JMK aka The Overshare
    
    It’s not like he voted a 4.
    - Bob Stone
      
      True – But some people have voted 6. They are just too embarrassed to admit it here, so I picked on JSquared.
      - JSquared
        
        Picked on me?
        
        JSquared
        
        Jake H you mean…
        
        Bob Stone
        
        Sorry – I meant Jake H – I responded to his 9. I looked too quick and thought I was relying to you. Sorry – My bad.
      - Zack
        
        trolls
        
        Pags Pasqua
        
        Some troll from the prestigious Red Sox Nation must have voted “1”. This means they really think “10”.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

I give this team a 42.
Bob Stone

I am back a Confidence Level 10 after two weeks at 9. The reason for the 9 was concern about AJ and Joba as well as the realization that 6 straight games against LA/Boston is a challenge. What more do fans need to see to be at 10, at least for today?
- andrew
  
  More consistency from AJ and Joba would get the job done for me. Not to nitpick too much, but we really don’t know what we’re going to get from 50% of our playoff rotation, so i can’t go all in with the 10 just yet.
  - Bob Stone
    
    I understand. If they pitch like they did over the last week though, the Yanks are looking good. I just think people should let go, bask in the glory of the moment, and get crazy with their optimism for one day by voting 10.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

I can only assume the four people who voted a “6” are Peter Gammons, John Kruk, Jayson Stark, and John “Tweet Tweet Biiiitch” Henry.
- http://www.workwithpete.com Pete
  
  Ken Rosenthal voted a 6, then logged in as a different user and voted a 9.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    (golf clap)
  - JMK aka The Overshare
    
    Well played, sir.
  - Bob Stone
    
    +6 . . . no I mean +9.
  - Zack
    
    you have to be *this* tall to vote in the poll
    - Riddering
      
      And here I thought Dusty voted 1.
      - AndrewYF
        
        That’s the only option he could reach.
        
        I’ll do it myself.
        
        *golf clap*
Bob Stone

A quick calculation shows that the poll is hovering just over 9. Let’s see the poll crack the 9 level for the first time this year. The highest level was an 8.90 on 08/10/09.

Optimists – Get the vote out!
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Vote early and often.
  
  Sincerely,
  Richard J. Daley
  - Bob Stone
    
    +1960
  - Jack
    
    Vote or Die!
    
    Sincerely,
    P. Diddy
  - Riddering
    
    Don’t vote!
    
    /MTV’d
Bob Stone

Based on early returns, with only 9% of the vote in, our Election Headquarters team projects the optimist as the winner with a 9.09.
RCK

My first 10 since opening day. How could I not?
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

BTW, Joe left a few things out of the headline of the game recap from last night. It should read:

“Yanks take game, series, AL East, home field advantage, MLB record, Boston’s pride, the secret Rebel base at Hoth, Boston’s self-respect, hundreds of young coeds, Boston’s virginity, ESPN’s credibility, Ken Rosenthal’s heart, the MacGuffin, the lead, the streets, the cake, the A-train, the money and run, and basically whatever the #$%& we want, because we’re the balls.“
Tom Zig

Voted a 9. I’m more amazed at the fact that people voted 7 and 6 than that one person who voted 1.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  I’m struggling to think of things more pathetic than trolling on websites of your most hated opponents.
  
  I wouldn’t go to Red Sox websites, because they’re beneath me.
  - Tom Zig
    
    I wouldn’t go to Red Sox websites, because they’re beneath me.
    
    Does ESPN count?
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      http://www.instantrimshot.com
Pags Pasqua

I voted 9. Why not a 10?

AJ & Joba

A couple of decent starts do not counterbalance a season full of inconsistency.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Fair point. My retort:
  
  Inconsistent AJ and Joba >>>>>>>> Other team’s 3rd and 4th best starters
  - Pags Pasqua
    
    I suppose I can dig that. I might also add:
    
    Yankee 49 comeback wins >>>>>>>>> Other teams’ bullpens
    
    I officially change my vote to a 9.5.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      THAT IS HOW YOU DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!
      - Tom Zig
        
        Popups >>>>> Luis Castillo
        
        andrew
        
        ietc
- Stryker
  
  A couple of decent starts do not counterbalance a season full of inconsistency
  
  except this poll is all about the PRESENT. not what’s happened in the past.
  - Pags Pasqua
    
    Can’t seperate the two. “He who ignores history is doomed to repeat it.” – some dead guy. My PRESENT confidence level is of necessity based on PAST performance.
Andy In Sunny Daytona

My Confidence level is at a 10, but it will go to infinity if one of these four things happen. (infinity + 1 if 2 things happen, etc…)

1. Sign Aroldis Chapman
2. Sign Miguel Angel Sano (Jesus, Angel, Pope, Mo and Melvin!!!)
3. Speaking of Him, Melvin decides to come to America.
4. Sign Wagner Mateo and then get Dr. Arun Gulani to fix his eyes.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  I’m very aroused.
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    Lord Ganesh has blessed us all.
    
    http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_396/1241755689cf5TdM.jpg
http://www.teamnerdrage.com leokitty

Voted 9 because Andy’s been sorta meh lately. K:BB of just about 1 in September, eek.
- Andy In Sunny Daytona
  
  He’s still dirrty though.
  
  /AJ’d
  - http://www.teamnerdrage.com leokitty
    
    That was the first time I clearly understood anything AJ said the first time around, and I was mildly disturbed.
Bob Stone

The trolls are killing the poll. With 498 votes, confidnce level in just short of 9 – 8.797.
pat

I voted one, but it was all just a tribute to Andy Kaufman so it’s cool.
Dela G

my level is at televen… thats right, televen
Riddering

Let’s just say…I’m hopped up on ‘confidence’.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

HOLY CRAP – It looks like ESPN has been shamed into improvement.

With one week left in the regular season, each contender headed to the postseason (according to Monday’s standings) shares a common identity crisis: With the exception of the Yankees, every team has bullpen issues that will likely make or break them in October and, perhaps, November…

The Yankees seem to be the lone contenders to buck this troublesome trend. I’ve said all season that the way the Yankees have developed a solid bullpen corps will turn out to be one of 2009’s critical storylines. When they left Tampa in April, the Yankees’ bullpen meant potluck in the sixth and seventh innings, Brian Bruney in the eighth and then Mariano Rivera.

…The Yankees, however, did a wonderful job of creating a dependable group of arms to get those big outs late in games. They stuck with and developed their current mix of Alfredo Aceves, David Robertson, Phil Coke and Phil Hughes to lead into Rivera. Robertson had to be shut down with elbow tightness but reportedly threw a problem-free bullpen session last week and, barring a setback, will be on New York’s ALDS roster. The chance to add Joba Chamberlain to that mix, if he’s not in the rotation, makes the Yankees group even more formidable.

Steve Berthiaume said that. No, seriously.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/notebook?page=bbtn
- Bob Stone
  
  You can only deny the TRUTH for so long.
- http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten
  
  Brb, going to die of shock.
http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten

9, for like the 10th week in a row.
When we win the World Series in 5 weeks, it’ll be a 10. Until then, there’s always room for improvement.
Jersey

Never voted a 10. Until now.
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