Fan Confidence Poll: March 5th, 2012

March 5, 2012 by Mike Axisa 23 Comments

Record Last Week: 2-0 (15 RS, 9 RA)
Spring Training Record: 2-0 (15 RS, 9 RA)
Opponents This Week: @ Phillies (Mon. on MLBN), @ Pirates (Tues.), vs. Rays (Weds. on YES/MLBN), @ Blue Jays (Thurs.), vs. Braves (Fri. on YES/MLBN), @ Braves (Sat.) vs. Twins (one game, Mon.), vs. Rays (four games, Tues. to Thurs., two on Weds.), vs. Red Sox (three games, Fri. to Sun.), @ Twins (Sun. on MLBN, split squad), vs. Twins (Sun. on YES, split squad)

Top stories from last week:

Hal Steinbrenner confirmed that the Yankees intend to get under the $189M luxury tax threshold by 2014, and both he and Brian Cashman explained why and theoretically how.
Injury News: Joba Chamberlain threw off a full mound for the first time as part of his Tommy John surgery rehab and Mark Teixeira is nursing a sore foot after a foul ball got him. George Kontos played catch for the first time since tweaking his oblique. Manny Delcarmen will miss a few days with a lat strain. Russell Branyan and Kyle Higashioka are out with back spasms and a shoulder problem, respectively. Robinson Cano missed a few days because his grandmother passed away.
MLB officially announced that the new ten-team playoff system will be implemented in 2012. The two Wild Card teams in each league meet in a play-in game with the winner advancing to the LDS round.
The fifth starter competition may be rigged in Phil Hughes‘ favor again. Yadier Molina’s new contract is bad news for the Yankees and good news for Russell Martin. Eric Chavez is officially back.
Cashman shot down a report saying they made an offer to Cuban utility man Adonis Garcia. The Yankees released Burt Reynolds.
Teixeira hired a new agent, Casey Close.

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 interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

{democracy:212}

Cris Pengiucci

Voted a 9, but should be at an 11 or 12. ARod looks great and the team is undefeated!!!!
Baby Joe Mesi

Last time I was this excited going into a season was 2009.
Manny’s BanWagon

It was a 9 but a combination of the 2014 budget cut and the release of Burt Reynolds dropped it to an 8 for me.
joek

I give it a 3 payroll going down Jeter,arod are old Kuroda never pitched in al east Pineda has had a half season of success in safco no less. Nova is not that good and Hughes stinks oh and lets not forget graderson could never repeat last year
- fin
  
  Dont forget Tex is trending downward, Joba is hurt, Soriano has some injury history, CC is fat and Girardi cant find his binder. They will be lucky to finish above the O’s.
  - BK2ATL
    
    And Jesus is risen…but in Seattle. The ghost of Bartolo Colon will haunt us.
    - JohnC
      
      Just like the ghost of Pavano haunted us?
      - BK2ATL
        
        Yeah, we haven’t recovered since… along with the ghost of Jared Wright.
        
        Off topic, but since we’re talking about ghosts, whatever happened with Mark Prior last year. Seems like he just quietly went away. Did he get hurt again?
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    They will be lucky to finish above the O’s.
    
    Don’t laugh, I know of at least one serious fan that actually believed that last year because of Buck Showalter’s mojo.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  They also didn’t sign Fielder to DH and Pujols to back up Tex at first. How do they not have a backdoor handshake agreement with Coal Hammmels? CASHMAN FAILED.
BK2ATL

I’m at 9 still. Nice start to spring training. This team has the talent. We just need to stay healthy. A-Rod!!!!!

If A-Rod and Tex bounce back offensively, we stay healthy, and our pitching performs as expected, we’ll win #29.
- gc
  
  I’d love for them to win TWO world series titles this year, but I’d be happy with one. :)
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I see we’re already lowering expectations with the austerity plan.
Mykey

I put an 8. Would be a 10 if the Yankees didn’t release Burt Reynolds. Alas, our future is doomed to not be nearly as hilarious.
Robinson Tilapia

Fuck it. 10, bitches. The pitching depth is going to shine this year. Alex’s rehab will pay off and he’ll play 140 games. Tex won’t break a bone in his face while wondering. The real Joba Chamberlain and Phil Phucking Hughes will show up. Mariano will ride a fucking unicorn in CF at the end of the season while holding up a WS trophy. Brian Cashman will point at his crotch while he delivers a championship team at $188,999,999.99 in 2014 featuring CC and four other young aces.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  while BUNTING. He won’t break a bone while BUNTING.
- boogie down
  
  Wade Boggs weeps about his thoroughly mundane equine.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Sorry, Wade. Have some lemon chicken.
Rafael

When Russell Branyan will get any AB?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  He’s out with back problems at the moment.
The Constant Gardner

Good luck Burt Reynolds.
Reggie C.

8.

I probably won’t go higher than an 8 till much later. Things that will get me to a 9:
a. Banuelos cutting his BB rate in half against AAA hitters; and
b. Hughes holding on to his 5th starter role and not losing it by mid season to Garcia (who i like but c’mon); and
c. Arod healthy. He’ll become a 30 homer threat once more if his lower body doesnt fail him.

I hope these are reasonable enough demands to the baseball gods. Hopefully Mo can intercede on our behalf.
Jesse

Again, another week, another 9