Fan Confidence Poll: March 17th, 2014

March 17, 2014 by Mike Axisa 34 Comments

Spring Training Record: 10-9-2 (93 RS, 78 RA)
Spring Training Games This Week: @ Pirates (Mon.), vs. Red Sox (Tues. on YES, ESPN), @ Braves (Weds.), @ Red Sox (Thurs. on YES, ESPN), vs. Pirates (Fri. on MLBN), @ Twins (Sat.), vs. Blue Jays (Sun. on YES, MLB)

Top stories from last week:

The Yankees have signed all their remaining pre-arbitration-eligible players. There is “nothing doing” in trade talks about Ichiro Suzuki, though several teams are scouting Frankie Cervelli.
Injury Updates: Both Tyler Austin (wrist) and Brendan Ryan (oblique) have resumed hitting and are expected to start full workouts this week. Jacoby Ellsbury (calf) is day-to-day with tightness. Eduardo Nunez (thigh) is fine after getting spiked. Nik Turley (arm) will be shut down another two weeks with tightness.
Gary Sanchez topped MLB.com’s list of the team’s top 20 prospects. The Yankees ranked 13th in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings.
The Yankees gave Shin-Soo Choo only 21 hours to accept their offer over the winter.

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.

OB/GYN Kenobi

5 and trending higher, though the site isn’t letting me vote (it immediately shows me results without a prompt to vote).

The site: Russian interference and intimidation

Voting 5: a vote for the Crimea to remain part of the Ukraine
- Eddardo Nuney
  
  If Crimea votes to be part of Russia then that should be just fine with us. I don’t understand what the big deal is with this crisis, this is a Russia/EU problem not U.S. It’d be like if there was unrest in Canada or Mexico and we intervened, and we would intervene in our national interests, but then Russia swooped in and said just what do you think you’re doing intervening in a country on your border?
  - radnom
    
    Its a little more complex because after the fall of the Soviet Union the US made a deal to protect Ukraine’s boarders in return for them turning over their MASSIVE nuclear arsenal. Not exactly a great president to set for future countries who may be willing to disarm.
    
    I agree with what you’re saying too, its just that it is complex and has major implications for the U.S..
    - radnom
      
      *precident
      - Pinkie Pie
        
        *precedent
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        *Stephen Drew
        
        TWTR
        
        Detroit.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Last I heard, they weren’t interested.
        
        vin
        
        Prussia.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Always.
        
        jason
        
        Perhaps the misspelling (“not exactly a great president”) was intentional or, makes sense on its face in any event…?
        
        5, until org gets bounce-back years from key prospects.
        
        OB/GYN Kenobi
        
        Facts:
        
        – Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 via ground invasion and massive bombing campaign (I.e. a far more egregious set of acts than what is occurring today wrt the Crimea)
        
        – George Bush’s response: zilch. No sanctions, no military action, no nothing.
        
        – It was resolved via ceasefire negotiated by – wait for it – the French.
        
        – Republican outrage and handwringing: zero.
        
        Selective memory FTW.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Now you done did it.
        
        jason
        
        2 on current President, unless he gets bounce-back year from healthcare.gov. then 3.
        
        OB/GYN Kenobi
        
        This isn’t the place for this (and sorry for that Mike, I just couldn’t resist the idiocy) but you sir are an idiot. Enjoy the Flat Earth Society.
        
        OB/GYN Kenobi
        
        Though I do agree with your 5.
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      We’re letting Eddard actually hijack a confidence thread into a political discussion.
      
      I’ve now seen it all.
      - OB/GYN Kenobi
        
        I figured my post would get a Prussia mention sooner or later. Glad it didn’t disappoint.
        
        Amazing though that Eddard took it from there.
- Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)
  
  I voted 7.
  Better dead than red.
  - OB/GYN Kenobi
    
    I laughed.
Eddardo Nuney

We’re still at a 10. People are severely underrating this ballclub. They’ve made major upgrades throughout the OF, DH, C and of course the upgrades at 1B and SS with the return of Teixera and Jete. Rotation is much better with Tanaka, Nova is primed for a great season and CC seems to be back to his old self. They need to manage Hiroki’s innings better. Use that young pitching depth to spell these guys and rest them for when it matters.
Jorge Steinbrenner

Still at last week’s 8. A lot of really good stuff going on as the spring progresses. Tanaka and Pineda look great. Betances appears to be really showing himself to finally be a legit MLB option. We may actually put some sort of respectable infield out there. Hearing about CC looking sharp yesterday, even with a diminished fastball, is a very good thing.

While some of the higher-profile younger guys haven’t looked sharp and/or even able to play and, really, Banuelos gets the biggest pass ever there, guys like Shane Greene and Bryan Mitchell have looked good in very limited duty. We’ll see where that all plays out moving forward, but 2014? I continue to like what I see thus far.
Darren

7. Thanks for the reminder, Jacoby. Let’s not go trading Ichiro for a bag of balls just yet, mmkay?
- OB/GYN Kenobi
  
  It’s funny. Two days ago I was posting that the best thing about ST thus far was that there hadn’t yet been any injuries.
  
  His may be minor, but still.
I’m One

When (if) I can vote today, I’ll be at a 7. I’m getting the same thing as OB/GYN Kenobi, where I’m immediately shown the results with no option to submit my vote.

As far as Ellsbury goes, this isn’t like one of his previous major injuries. Those were fluke things. However, it does go to show that there will always be minor nagging injuries and therefore depth is a good thing.
Farewell Mo

7.
I’m extra happy since I had my fantasy draft (AL only 8 team 5×5 league) and landed Tanaka, Kuroda, Robertson and Kelly Johnson. Usually I end up with no Yankees since they tend to be drafted too early but this year worked out well.
- Chip Rodriguez
  
  Nice. I ended up getting McCann, Tanaka and Ellsbury in my draft this weekend. All the more reason for me to be optimistic.
http://twitter.com/rationalsports @rational_sports

Hovering at an 8 right now, but perhaps that’s really a 7 with some pre-opening day excitement turning into optimism. i am really, really excited for what Tanaka brings to the table. It’s probably what I’m most looking forward to this year. Also looking forward to seeing the other new additions, but most definitely McCann and Ellsbury. Lastly, excited to see what Pineda can do.

On the negative side – Extremely concerned about the infield. This unit could end up being in the bottom 3 in baseball. So many question marks. Kelly Johnson is a marginal everyday player. He’s useful but nothing to get excited about. Brian Roberts may not be healthy, and if he’s healthy, he may not be good. Similar thoughts apply to Teixeira and Jeter, both of whom are coming off major injuries and were on the decline even before the injuries.

Follow @rational_sports
CS Yankee

8

Hoping the rust gets knocked off of Jete & Teix along with a decent version of CC (mid-3’s fip).

This team, if healthy, should go far.
Jay D

Went from 5 to 6. The young arms looking promising is a good boost for the immediate future, with some hope added for the future. Obligatory TINSTAAPP
TWTR

7
Chip Rodriguez

Sticking with my optimistic 8.

Nice to see Tex swinging (and sometimes even hitting) with no worrying comments on the wrist. Gazoo’s hitting nicely. McCann is quickly becoming one of my favorite Yankees.

And it’s good to see prospects like Shane Greene and Ramon Flores having good outings.
LarryM Fl

7. I believe the team is good enough on paper to keep us in the hunt. But I do not feel that confident with a playoff birth at this time.
Wheels

7