Fan Confidence Poll: January 4th, 2010

January 4, 2010 by Mike Axisa 48 Comments

2009 Season Record: 103-59 (915 RS, 753 RA), won AL East by 8 games, finished with the best record in MLB by 6 games, won 27th World Series

Top stories from last week:

Three potential leftfield options came off the board last week, as Jason Bay agreed to terms with the Mets, Marlon Byrd landed in Chicago, and Mark DeRosa headed to San Francisco. Lots of other options appear to be too pricey, and it’s not a given that they’ll improve the team much anyway. A tight budget this year could lead to big spending next year.
The non-tendered Chien-Ming Wang hasn’t ruled out a return to pinstripes.
Righthander Jose Ramirez was named the Short Season Pitcher of the Year, though fellow prospect Brandon Laird was arrested in Phoenix.
Rumblings of a potential NHL Winter Classic in the New Yankee Stadium are getting louder.
David Cone is out as a broadcaster at YES.

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.

Stryker

nothing’s really changed since last week. still at a 9 for now; glad we weren’t the ones that signed jason bay to a 4 year deal.
- pat
  
  To play OF
  
  In a gigantic field.
  - Rose
    
    Over/Under set at 5 home runs for Bay at home in Citifield?
    - Chris
      
      I would take the over. Especially considering that Citi Field is slightly better than average for home runs.
      
      http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor/_/sort/HRFactor
      - Rose
        
        I was just looking at David Wright’s numbers during his first year there…
        
        http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
        
        But Wright may not be the best one to look at. He also had a down year power-wise away from home, not just at ~~Shea~~ Citi.
        
        Rose
        
        Good point…
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Definitely over. It’s a bad hitter’s park, but not that bad.
Jake H

9 for me still. Yanks have top 5 rotations and the best lineup in the game. Not worried at all.
http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

9.
Evil Empire

Confidence level remains at a 10, would be an 11 (or 28) if I could vote so.
- Evilest Empire
  
  (name change)
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    So wait, I’m confused. We have two Evil Empires now? One’s “The Evil Empire,” and you’re “Evilest Empire?”
    - Evilest Empire
      
      Yeah. There’s a guy called “The Evil Empire”, who doesn’t post as much as me but he’s cool.
      
      And then I’ve been using the handle “Evil Empire” since I started posting on RAB again, which was around when the ALCS started. But I changed it over the weekend to “Evilest Empire” so as make highlight the difference. Maybe I need to add an “AKA” to my name.
      - Rose
        
        “Dogs and Cats living together…MASS HYSTERIA!!”
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        No it’s cool, I just wanted to keep my Empires straight. “The Evil Empire” has been commenting here since last January.
        
        Evilest Empire
        
        I used to post as Ryan S. from ’08 to early ’09 but I disappeared for a while, and came back as Evil(est) Empire once I felt compelled to start commenting on RAB again.
  - http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
    
    I’m freaking out, man.
    - Scooter
      
      Seems apropos:
      Jerry: Oh you’re crazy.
      Kramer: Am I? Or am I so sane that you just blew your mind?
      
      Put me down at 9.9999 – Reed Johnson’s worth the other 0.0001 when he signs up to be Gritner’s caddy
      
      And we’re rapidly approaching Little Melmas
Jersey

Voting 10 in ’10. The more I think about this offseason, the more I love love love it.
http://twitter.com/riddering Riddering

Confidence level for the team = 10.

Confidence level for a quality YES booth throughout the year = 4.
- Evilest Empire
  
  Michael Kay will have to carry the booth the way A-Rod carried the Yankees in 2007.
  - http://twitter.com/riddering Riddering
    
    Knowing Kay, he might just jump ahead and mirror A-Rod’s 2007 postseason performance.
    - Evilest Empire
      
      Heh.
      
      I hope Michael Kay really brings his A-game to the 2010 season. I want crazy, messed up stories that he heard in private from veterans. I want him to push FIP, UZR, and OPS+ onto the masses. I want him to call John Flaherty a boring SOB who would be more interesting if he came to work drunk like a proper Irishman.
      
      Sigh. If only.
Bob Stone

I voted 9 again. I can’t wait for spring training to start. I am looking forward to some pleasant surprises from some of the minor leaguers that are invited to camp.
- Evilest Empire
  
  Agreed, Bob.
  
  Chad Jennings from LoHud made some remarks about Romulo Sanchez last night, he’s a guy I’ll be keeping my eye on. I really hope Melancon is ready to rock and roll too, he could end up being a huge piece in 2010.
  
  In terms of position players, it’ll be fun to see if Frankie C. keeps working on his BB rate, and to see just what Hoffmann can do.
Christos

im gonna miss the singleton and cone broadcasts
- http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
  
  +1
  
  They were easily the best team.
- http://www.twitter.com/wahbjo01 Jordan – Cashman Has No Equal
  
  Agreed. That brings my confidence level down to a solid 3.
  
  If we trade Wordekemper + Miranda for Pujols and shift Tex to LF, I’m an 8 because we didn’t get Strasburg and traded Arodys.
  - PaaakmaaaN the second
    
    I’m hoping you’re joking;)
    - http://www.twitter.com/wahbjo01 Jordan – Cashman Has No Equal
      
      Are you telling me if you got a call that said “Wordekemper + Miranda for Pujols + grande soy chai latte” you’d turn it down?
      
      Wow. Ignorant.
      - PaaakmaaaN the second
        
        “and shift Tex to LF, I’m an 8 because we didn’t get Strasburg and traded Arodys.”
        
        I meant that part
Mike Pop

Voted a 9. The improved current team makes up for the hit the farm took in my opinion. I’m really sad to see the Viz go but I know that trade was a must make.

Just have to improve that farm, signing Aroldis Chapman would be a big plus.

/mryankee’d
- Tom Zig
  
  You forgot Verlander and Sizemore
Andy in Sunny Daytona

Standing steady at a 10. I haven’t changed since last April, so why change now. Going to miss Hideki, but I’m still holding out hope for Johnny and Chein-Ming to come back into the fold.
- ecksodia
  
  Seconded. I know it’s a bit much to expect Wang to replicate his pre-injury performance levels, but even 75% of those numbers for the amount of money he will sign for would be great.
  - ecksodia
    
    Assuming he signs with the Yankees, of course.
beantownyankees73

Are there really people on this site that have a confidence level less then 5 ? are these just trolls being Dbags?
- http://www.twitter.com/wahbjo01 Jordan – Cashman Has No Equal
  
  Close minded.
http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch

Who are these trolls that come in anywhere between 1-5?
- DRU
  
  Come on man, you know they’re just doing it on purpose. Coming off a WS win, adding Vaz, NO MORE JOBA RULES, getting a healthy Arod for a full year, adding a dynamic playmaker like Granderson, having depth in the rotation with Hughes ready and McAllister starting at AAA this year, adding the #3 OBP guy of 2009 ( only Pujols and Mauer had better OBP in 2009 ) in Johnson, having a absolute STUD in Montero starting the year at AAA. How can people not feel 9 or 10 at this point?
  
  BTW – I voted 10
  - http://www.twitter.com/wahbjo01 Jordan – Cashman Has No Equal
    
    Cashman did trade a short season ace-type pitcher who at any time could hit the proverbial wall, but is entirely likely to be a lazier Roger Clemens.
    
    And for what? Javier Vazquez? My selective memory totally remembers his playoff implosion.
    
    4.2
- Bob Stone
  
  You’re being generous. Why would anyone even be at 6 or 7 at this point?
  - http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch
    
    At 6-7 they could just be clinically depressed.
    
    We are talking hair on the knuckles for the 1-5 crowd.
DRU

Oh Bob, do you think Im going to fall for that weak @ss trap?

If any Yankee fan doesn’t feel 8+ at this point, they have issues. That would mean that NO team in the league has anything above 7. Go become a Pirates fan for a year and then come back when you grow up and learned your lesson…shame on any real Yankee fans who voted less than 8.
- Stryker
  
  it’s hard to believe, but i can see it. i’m sure there’s plenty of yankees fans who remember (selectively, of course) javy vazquez and nick johnson and how they didn’t do much to help the team before being shipped out of NY. the organization’s depth also is very thin at the upper levels, especially since the yankees traded 4 pitchers, and 2 outfielders — all but two of those six have seen the major leagues and one of the two was most likely
  
  granted, on talent and current contributions alone i’d take acquiring curtis granderson over retaining austin jackson any day. it just hurts a bit that the yankees are in a tight spot if there are injuries to the outfield.
  - Stryker
    
    *most likely groomed to solidify an outfield spot for the foreseeable future.
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