The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and it was all against the odds.
Sports pundits predicted the Diamondbacks would finish last in the National League West, which isn’t far fetched considering it is where the team finished in 2009 and 2010. The Diamondbacks finished first rather than appeasing the popular opinion.
They finished the season 94-68, almost a direct flip from 2010’s 65-97 record.
What we do know about the Diamondbacks is that their resilience is the best in the game. The team posted a 45-25 record after the All-Star break in July, including a 35-19 record through August and September to claim the NL West crown. The team has done their part, now the fans must do theirs.
It has been a decade since the magical 2001 World Series win, which was propelled by an enthusiastic fan base. While the Diamondbacks have a steep climb to make it to the end of October, they showed us this season that we should never count them out.
The path to the World Series will likely have to go through the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the deepest pitching rotation in the major leagues, but as of last week, the Diamondbacks had 45 come-from-behind win this season. That’s no small number — it’s nearly half of the team’s victories.
Tuesday night the Diamondbacks fell behind the Los Angeles Dodgers after they scored five runs in the 10th inning. Then the Diamondbacks rallied and third baseman Ryan Roberts laced a walk-off grand slam to give the team a 7-6 victory. It was another example of this strange aura, this strange toughness that has pushed the Diamondbacks in the playoffs, just another example of a team that can rise to the occasion.
The opponent will be the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the playoffs, and the high-powered Brewers earned two more wins than the Diamondbacks this season. The “Anyone, anytime” slogan that propelled the 2007 Diamondbacks to the NL West title can also be applied to this team.
They trumped expectations by finishing first, thanks in part to hard-liner manager Kirk Gibson (who should be the front-runner for manager of the year), and a group of athletes that succeed when it matters most.
The Diamondbacks will be the underdogs, just as they have been all year. Their resolve and courage should give us reason to support Justin Upton and company.
The spirit of 2001 has been around all season, and we can only hope it carries over into October.
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