The Diamondbacks Embody the Wild West in Their Quest to Become Baseball's Best

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The Arizona Diamondbacks, an expansion team that's history has only gone back long enough to have their first Hall of Fame inductees, the Legendary Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzales, two men largely responsible for the seemingly miracle season that led to a World Series game 7 win on that brisk November night back in 2001, an amazing accomplishment for a club who played their season in 1997. Since then, the Arizona fanbase has been witness to a roller coaster of franchise that had only seen a handful of playoff success, with 2007 and 2017 giving the Snakes 4 playoff wins, but losing in the NLCS and NLDS respectively. But in the past few years, the Diamondbacks have seemed to take on a new identity under skipper Torey Lovullo, who has been at the helm since 2017. While not rejecting the prevalence of the ever-increasing velocity pitchers, nor shying from the long ball, this club has solidified itself as a gritty and well-rounded team that can use it's baserunning prowess, amazing defensive skill, and the ability to pull away or catch up in a single inning with small ball and/or big hits, capable of repeating their postseason run of 2023, which saw them go 5 games in the World Series with Texas Rangers before giving up the title.

The 2024 season started with a lot of hope built on their National League Champion status, but rather quickly it became apparent the Diamondbacks would not be starting off with the same level of success they saw late in the season and throughout the playoffs, Seeming to not gain momentum due to numerous disappointing series, a plethora of injuries, and lackluster pitching efforts on both ends of the game that saw the Snakes limp toward the All Star Break. but since July, the Diamondbacks have been on one of baseballs best tears, going 20-7, winning series after series aside from a rough run in Tampa Bay. Even amidst this hot streak, injuries peaked their head again, bringing MLB rookie Adrian Del Castillo into the fold as Gabriel Moreno dealt with a nagging injury, bringing a powerful bat with game-winning potential to the team. Some last minute signings solidified our bullpen and offensive potential, Putting us in a strong end-of-season position to secure the top wildcard spot, if not the division, which would require a clean sweep of the upcoming four game series against the visiting Dodgers, which should prove to be a fun and competitive affair. Unlike other teams that have started strong, but have struggled as they reach for the playoffs, the Diamondbacks are scorching, and perfectly positioned to take their hot streak right into October.

This rough and tumble approach to the big dance isn't what fans and front offices look to take when they get going in spring, but it perfectly embodies the spirit of this team, their fans, the Sonoran desert that this expansion team was born and the native rattlesnake they are named after. As the season begins to wind down and teams jockey for post-season position, confidence is becoming palpable and contagious in the 48th state, was the entire state gets ready to see the Snakes make their run this fall.

-@mamontano2

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