Despair and tragedy are usually just one or two relievers away when talking about the Arizona Diamondbacks. This fact was validated over the past road trip in which the Diamondbacks went 2-8, getting swept by the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Watching your team go winless versus an opponent is never easy. It’s bad enough when that opponent is a divisional foe such as the Rockies, but you can at least justify it by rationalizing that the Rockies are the hottest team in baseball.
When your favorite team gets swept in a three-game series against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, it is much harder to swallow. I’d love to say that the Pirates too have been on fire but the fact is before the series against the Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh had lost seven of their last eight games.
Just when you think that this team could not possibly get any more inconsistent, they invent new ways to prove you wrong. Today, the Diamondbacks have an off-day before beginning their final home stand of the season.
I’d love to expound on how this off-day would be beneficial to allow the team to clear their heads and prepare for a tough six games against the Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but I’m not really sure I believe that any more.
Perhaps more importantly, having a day off could help Diamondbacks fans be a little less suicidal. After 75 sometimes gut-wrenching home games, some of these fans are definitely standing out on the ledge.
As I was driving to work today I went past a guy standing on a corner with a sign that said, “The End is Near.” I nodded in agreement—there are just six home games left.
I couldn’t help but think back over the past five months. Granted, there have been times I too wanted to give up but then I would go to another game and things wouldn’t look quite that bad.
None of us expected to be at this point in the season staring a 59-91 record in the face, but sometimes that happens. Instead of lamenting of all that went wrong, I’m going to try and stay positive.
There were a few bright points that occurred this year. After a disastrous 2009, center fielder Chris Young bounced back and had one of his most productive years. His hard work paid off in July when he was named the Diamondbacks' sole All-Star representative.
The struggles of Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson may have been depressing but their trades in July allowed us to look into a future that looks rather bright for right-handers Barry Enright and Daniel Hudson.
Going into the season, no one knew what to expect from Ian Kennedy in his first full season in the Major Leagues. He has shown why the Diamondbacks insisted on his inclusion in any trade discussions.
Second baseman Kelly Johnson has rebounded nicely from a subpar year in Atlanta last season. He may have cooled down from his April totals but he still was able to set career highs for home runs.
So while the end may be near, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to look forward to. After all, spring training is only 148 days away.
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