The D-backs have been nice this year. No lumps of coal, please…
November results
You will likely not be shocked to learn that reaching the World Series for the first time in 22 years had a positive impact on confidence. Yeah: surprised Pikachu face. The way the team swept the Brewers and Dodgers out of the play-offs, then clawed their way past the Phillies after a ferocious battle, can only be commended, even if the Diamondbacks then ran out of steam in the World Series against Texas. Still, even reaching the Championship Series, never mind winning it, was the best post-season performance by Arizona for more than two decades. Inevitably, coming off that baseball high, the confidence results at the start of November were almost unanimously positive.
- 0% – 1 (not confident in the slightest)
- 1% – 2
- 2% – 3
- 1% – 4
- 6% – 5
- 6% – 6
- 34% – 7
- 34% – 8
- 17% – 9 (very, very, VERY confident)
It certainly counts as surpassing all expectations, with a fractional majority of the 150 respondents going for 8 or 9. However, there was still a significant rump – around fifteen percent – who came in at 6 or lower. Tough crowd. 🙂 Though I think the 3’s and 2’s must have been disgruntled Dodgers fans or something. If not, feel free to explain yourself in the comments. All told, the average went up by almost a point and a half, from 5.88 to 7.36. That’s the third-highest in this poll history, coming behind September 2017 (7.84) and May 2018 (7.82). I don’t recall us making the World Series either of those months. I suspect years of indifference may have ground down D-backs fandom a bit!
Below, you can see the breakdown for the past 12 polls’ results, followed by the line graph showing the trends over this and previous seasons.
December poll
The adrenaline has now left our systems, and the D-backs now look to build on what happened this year, into 2024 and beyond. Already, one of the pieces necessary has been brought on board, with Eugenio Suarez arriving from Seattle to man the hot corner for Arizona. However, that’s just the first piece, and even the most loyal fan would say there is still a significant amount of other work to be done. What might Santa Hazen have for our stocking this festive season? A starting pitcher would certainly be nice to find under the Christmas tree. Perhaps some right-handed outfield help. Much like socks, you can’t go wrong with another reliable bullpen arm. But what do you reckon?
That would be what the poll is for. As ever, feel free to explain your choice in the comments, especially if it has changed from the previous one.