Diamondback Nation

It's happening.

Here's an email to my friend Eric I play baseball with from February.

From: Jeremy Dougherty [mailto:jdougherty@hotelvalleyho.com]
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 3:14 PM
To: Groen, Eric (10300)
Subject: RE: Dbacks Season Tickets

Kind of but not really.  $364 for 28 games.  Tuesday and Saturday games so you see a game from every series.  Plus it gets you in for the All Star Package.  I went to 14 games last year, not sure I could do more than that so I’m not doing it.  Plus as you mentioned they are rough to watch but I’m still thinking they will be better (predicting 84 ambitious wins). 


Blind faith.  It's what sports are all about.  With the tough choices they made in getting rid of mainstays in Mark Reynolds and Adam Laroche they've changed the dynamic of this team.  They have 61 wins right now and 84 is well within reach.  Heck, they could win 90 and probably need at least that to be the Giants this year.  Carlos Beltran?  That hurts.  Nice move.  But it hurts seeing that happen to a Division Rival.  


Watching Parra-Young-Upton do a three man chest bump after beating the Giants last night with Shaw blowing away the last two guys on 6 fastballs?  That's what makes baseball great.  The games going head to head for first place, every hit matters, every walk is big and every strikeout is stand up and yell excitement.    I've followed every game, watched so much dbacks, read recap, story, website.  I feel like this team is made up of all those components that get you somewhere at the end of the season.  Upton is taking on the league right now.  I feel like he's Griffey in '95 just mashing the ball, diving for balls, going all out.  The Kid is incredible. I had my doubts with his regression the last year but this season he has been 100% STUD.  He's on a 14 game hit streak, hitting .456 in that stretch. 


They finally have a legitimate first baseman in the phenom Paul Goldschmidt.  I don't put too much in it that he hit a dinger last night as we all saw Willy Mo and Brandon Allen hit a few shots but hit .145 after a couple weeks.  With the team they have now they are all contributing and every night it's someone else knocking in the win.  Somehow Kelly Johnson is hitting .215 but seems like he has 2 doubles and a triple every night.  Weird.  


My point is...how can you NOT be a Dbacks fan right now?  Facebook, in all it's social flaws, is abound with loyal die-hards with so much enthusiasm it's refreshing to see.  For so long this city has been a melting pot of team loyalty.  It may not have fully converted but I think it's rounding the corner.  Nothing will change it more than another playoff appearance and another championship banner.  


Jason Marquis on the mound today.  Debut trade deadline pickup.  Kevin Towers for GM of the Year?  He had my vote in May.  


Possibly the most interesting thing in all of this is that I grew up a Yankees fan, watched and followed and obsessed over them for years and years yet I couldn't tell you if they are in first place, if Arod is playing or hurt or if Jeter is still being a giant pansy with another pathetic finger injury.  (seriously...what's his deal?)  Wait..Arod had surgery right?  I think I did know that.  Anyway, if someone were to ask me what's my favorite team in baseball...hands down.  Arizona Diamondbacks.  Doesn't mean I don't still root for the Yankees, but they are just not my main focus.  My passion is definitely for the Dbacks.  I root for the Yankees more now just so the Red Sox and their horrible fans don't have more crap to talk smack about.  2001 was painful but in the ten years I've lived in Arizona...I'm a full convert.  


Go Diamondbacks!


Go Dbacks!!!

Viva los dbacks!!