Into 2025, we plunge!
December results
A hat-tip to Webb_Gemz for reminding me to post this! There have actually been three times where I managed to forget about it entirely: January 2018, plus December 2019 and 2021. Glad to keep the 37-month streak rolling! When we last checked in, at the beginning of December, we were all probably about eight to ten pounds lighter than we are now. Or maybe that’s just me. But there had been an undeniable dearth of movement on the part of the Diamondbacks, who seemed to have largely stood still, outside of signing a new (and largely unknown pitching coach). As their rivals made moves, would that have an impact on fan confidence at the start of December? Here’s the results.
- 5% – 1 (not confident in the slightest)
- 3% – 2
- 3% – 3
- 5% – 4
- 18% – 5
- 32% – 6
- 24% – 7
- 5% – 8
- 5% – 9 (very, very, VERY confident)
A slight shift downward, with “6” now becoming the most popular category, when it was “7” at the start of November. We also saw a smattering of “1” votes from the pessimistic side of fandom, the first time they’ve made an appearance since July, and the first time in such numbers since June. Remember June? We were fourth in the division. I must put myself on the back for this from December 2: “Especially as people get all excited about the Suns and Cardinals. Bold prediction: both teams will end up disappointing you.” And, yep: here we are. Anyway, the average confidence dropped by just over a quarter of a point, though did fall below six. It dropped from 6.02 to 5.74 points at the start of December.
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.
January poll
That is a good point and a half lower than it was at this point in 2023, but we were the reigning National League pennant owners at that stage. We’ll see whether December’s moves, the first of significance by Arizona, get things moving in the right direction. The team traded for 1B Josh Naylor, and then shocked everyone by swooping in and picking up pitcher Corbin Burnes on a long-term contract. It still feels like there’s work to be done – shore up the bullpen, add another slugger, figure out the rotation. But you’d be hard pressed to claim the D-backs are not in a better position for 2025 than they were a month ago. To what extent has that moved your own, personal needle?
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.