We had a total of 54 participants in three days, which was pretty good and fairly consistent with past surveys. We’ve gotten as high as 100 responses, but those occurred at higher times of interest (Spring Training). With PG Plus just falling apart last month and the season just ending, this was a solid showing.
The results are rounded off to the nearest percentage, so they will not always add up to 100%.
Q1. I thought this was a little surprising that Win 82 didn’t score higher, but the dramatic end to the Cubs game won the day. Also interesting, in other seasons I think the Cole moment would have been best…your prospect finally shows up, the crowd shows up riled, etc. But alas, we had bigger fish to fry this year.
Best Moment of 2013?
44% Win at Chicago, out at home for the playoffs
22% Cueto dropped ball, Martin HR
20% Last out, Wild Card win
13% Last out, win 82
0% Cole debut
Q2. Mr. Cole has certainly made an impression
If you have the ability to sign just one of these three to be a cornerstone of the franchise, who do you pick?
69% Cole
19% Alvarez
13% Marte
Q3. You always know you have a terrible question when the answer is almost entirely unanimous. So yeah, we all want AJ back unless the price is silly.
AJ Burnett?
91% I want him back if the price is reasonable
6% I want him back at any price
4% I do not want him back
Q4. This one was pretty split. Almost half of the crowd is comfortable with Mercer being the SS, and the other half isn’t. Hmm…
Jordy Mercer?
50% The team should bring in a veteran and let them fight for the job
43% The job should be Mercer’s regardless of Spring Training
7% The team should bring in a veteran to start with Mercer as utility again
Q5. So the way these questions work is you get 5 points for every 1st vote, 4 points for every 2nd vote, and so on. So the higher average score, the better. Was a little surprised that RF didn’t show up right behind 1B, but starting pitching squeezed in there as a top priority. RF overwhelimingly had the most 2nd place votes overall, but because starting pitching got a good number of 1st place votes it averaged higher.
With limited financial resources, how do you rank where the dollars should be spent?
4.30 First Base
3.69 Starting Pitching
3.24 Right Field
1.94 Shortstop
1.83 Relief Pitching
Q6. Looking at these numbers, it tells me 78% of folks do not want to see the mix of folks we used last year at first base, but there also isn’t overwhelming support to break the bank either.
First base?
54% Don’t go all in, but look for affordable new faces
28% I’m fine with Gaby and any one of Jones, Morneau, or Lambo
19% Let’s go all in and get a fulltime starter
Q7. This might be my favorite question, so I’m going to break it down to show the full results. A little shocked that 8 people picked Hurdle last which probably sank him to 3rd behind Cutch, but look at the spread…every guy falls at least once in every position. And for Nutting to get a dozen first place and 17 last place is really interesting in a love him or hate him way.
Rank these individuals from 1st place to 6th as who you give the most credit to for the turnaround of the last couple of years?
2 –
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3 –
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4 –
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5 –
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6 –
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Total –
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Neal Huntington
|
37.04%
20
|
25.93%
14
|
11.11%
6
|
9.26%
5
|
12.96%
7
|
3.70%
2
|
4.54
|
Andrew McCutchen
|
18.52%
10
|
11.11%
6
|
27.78%
15
|
22.22%
12
|
16.67%
9
|
3.70%
2
|
3.81
|
Clint Hurdle
|
14.81%
8
|
18.52%
10
|
27.78%
15
|
14.81%
8
|
9.26%
5
|
14.81%
8
|
3.70
|
Ray Searage
|
3.70%
2
|
27.78%
15
|
14.81%
8
|
18.52%
10
|
22.22%
12
|
12.96%
7
|
3.33
|
Robert Nutting
|
22.22%
12
|
7.41%
4
|
5.56%
3
|
12.96%
7
|
20.37%
11
|
31.48%
17
|
3.04
|
AJ Burnett
|
3.70%
2
|
9.26%
5
|
12.96%
7
|
22.22%
12
|
18.52%
10
|
33.33%
18
|
2.57
|
Q8. A lot of talk on the blog about making him a starter, but when people went behind the curtain to vote they want Justin Wilson to be our next great closer.
Justin Wilson?
50% Groom him to be closer, more 8th and 9th inning work
28% Stretch him out to be a starter
22% Keep him in the same role next year
Q9. This was another dog question, we all pretty much agree we want Byrd back if he’ll come for one year. Beyond that, not a huge desire for a longer commitment.
Marlon Byrd?
67% Want him back for 1 year, no more than that
17% Whatever it takes to get him back including a 2 year deal
11% Don’t want Byrd, happy with Tabata, Lambo, or Jones until Polanco
6% Don’t want Byrd, but find another stopgap
Q10. This season has certainly changed how the fans look at next year. Every year the expectations get higher, which is a good thing.
Expectations for 2014?
39% .500 or better, maybe a Wild Card
36% 90+ wins and a playoff appearance at minimum
22% 90+ wins and a playoff series win at minimum
4% A significant decline from this season