The Diamondbacks changed uniform colors. They changed the roster. They made changes to the coaching staff. They even had changes in the broadcast booth.
And after 162 games, they managed to win their fourth division title and will play host to the Chicago Cubs in the opening round of the playoffs. OK, so their .556 winning percentage is the lowest for a top seed in major league history. But with so many changes having been made, to be where they are is simply amazing.
"The city is really starting to embrace this group," team president Derrick Hall said.
The Diamondbacks lost their final two games in Colorado, but Arizona's playoff scenario had already been established. It was a chance for manager Bob Melvin to rest a lot of his players and members of the pitching staff. How they got here, though, is still a bit mind-boggling.
"Most of the teams I've been on have one or two horses, guys you can ride offensively," first baseman Tony Clark said. "But when we came into this season, we knew that was not the type of group we had. And if we were going to be successful, we had to have contributions across the board."
LAST GAME, ROCKIES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3: Colorado rallied with three runs in the eighth to hand Arizona its second consecutive loss and set up a one-game tiebreaker with San Diego to determine the NL wild-card spot. Melvin rested several of his regulars and pulled LHP Doug Davis from his start a day earlier to keep him fresh for the Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
NOTES, QUOTES
RHP Brandon Webb will pitch the opener of the series, followed by Davis, RHP Livan Hernandez and rookie RHP Micah Owings. "We like the way 'Livo' follows Davis," Melvin said.
Melvin didn't feel a need to defend his decision to rest several regulars in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rockies, including deciding to pull Davis from the start go with RHP Yusmeiro Petit. "They're going to use all of their guys and go as hard as they can," Melvin said of the Rockies. "They had to win. There were several guys we weren't going to use. It's not that uncommon for that to happen at this time of the year."
The Diamondbacks were outscored by their opponents this season, had the second-worst batting average in the NL, and lost LHP Randy Johnson, 2B Orlando Hudson and 3B Chad Tracy to injury. Yet they somehow managed to win a fourth NL West title in their 10-year history. "People talk about the run differential, people talk about the numbers that don't make sense. But there's a reason why it doesn't make sense. It's because this is a team," left fielder Eric Byrnes said. "I don't think in professional sports you're not going to find more of a team than you'll find here."
Melvin on the team's euphoric celebration in the visiting clubhouse at Coors Field after the Diamondbacks clinched a playoff spot on Friday: "I think a lot of it had to do with a lot of guys who had never done that before. Some youth, some excitement. More of a veteran-type club who had been through a few of them might have been tempered a little bit more, but we had quite a few younger guys who got caught up with it, and that's fine."
General manager Byrnes on his team's playoff series against the Cubs: "I think this is a pick-'em series. That being said, I think we have as good a chance as anyone of going out, winning two series and taking our chances in the World Series."
BY THE NUMBERS: 47 -- Saves by closer Jose Valverde in 54 chances.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is the best feeling I've had in baseball so far. This is tops on my list." -- RHP Brandon Webb, after winning his 18th game and helping the Diamondbacks clinch a playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over Colorado at Coors Field on Sept. 28.
EX-INDIAN FACTOR: GM Josh Byrnes worked in Tribe front office in 1990s; Director of Player Personnel Jerry Dipoto pitched for the Tribe; Latin Operations Director Junior Noboa was a Tribe infielder; first-base coach Lee Tinsley played in the Tribe farm system; RHP Bob Wickman holds the Indians' career saves record; radio analyst Tom Candiotti was a Tribe pitcher.
MEDICAL WATCH: 3B Chad Tracy (sore right knee) was activated Sept. 16, but on Sept. 17, another MRI was ordered. He had season-ending surgery Sept. 20, and he may be ready for spring training; 2B Orlando Hudson (torn ligament in left thumb) was injured Sept. 4. He played Sept. 5 despite pain, and an MRI Sept. 6 revealed the nature of the injury. He had season-ending surgery Sept. 10; LHP Randy Johnson (herniated back disk) went on the DL retroactive to June 11. He returned to the rotation June 28, went back on the DL June 29, and had season-ending back surgery Aug. 3.
HITTERS
Emilio Bonifacio, 2B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .176 17 2 3 1 0 0 0 0
Season .217 23 2 5 1 0 0 2 0
Eric Byrnes, LF
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .207 29 3 6 1 0 0 1 5
Season .286 626 103 179 30 8 21 83 50
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 1
Last 7 Games .273 11 1 3 1 0 0 1 1
Season .215 144 10 31 8 0 0 7 1
Randy Choate, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff Cirillo, 3B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .222 9 1 2 1 0 0 1 0
With Ari .200 40 6 8 4 0 0 6 0
Tony Clark, 1B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .333 21 4 7 0 0 2 5 0
Season .249 221 31 55 5 1 17 51 0
Juan Cruz, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Doug Davis, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .067 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Season .069 58 3 4 0 0 0 1 0
Stephen Drew, SS
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .414 29 4 12 1 1 1 5 0
Season .238 543 60 129 28 4 12 60 9
Dana Eveland, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Edgar Gonzalez, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game 1.000 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .167 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Season .190 21 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
Robby Hammock, C
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .250 8 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
Season .244 45 5 11 2 0 0 0 0
Livan Hernandez, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .214 14 1 3 0 0 0 1 0
Season .213 75 9 16 1 0 1 5 0
Orlando Hudson, 2B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .250 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .280 25 8 7 2 2 0 1 3
Season .294 517 69 152 28 9 10 63 10
Conor Jackson, 1B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .412 17 3 7 2 0 2 7 0
Season .284 415 56 118 29 1 15 60 2
Randy Johnson, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .091 11 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Season .067 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Brandon Lyon, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brandon Medders, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Miguel Montero, C
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .333 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .100 10 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Season .224 214 30 48 7 0 10 37 0
Bill Murphy, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dustin Nippert, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Augie Ojeda, SS
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .353 17 4 6 0 0 0 3 0
Season .274 113 16 31 2 2 1 12 1
Micah Owings, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .500 14 1 7 5 0 0 3 0
Season .333 60 9 20 7 1 4 15 0
Jailen Peguero, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tony Pena, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .250 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Yusmeiro Petit, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .063 16 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Carlos Quentin, RF
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .200 10 1 2 1 0 0 1 0
Season .214 229 29 49 16 0 5 31 2
Mark Reynolds, 3B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .227 22 3 5 1 0 0 1 0
Season .279 366 62 102 20 4 17 62 0
Donnie Sadler, SS
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff Salazar, RF
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Last 7 Games .333 15 1 5 0 1 0 0 2
Season .277 94 13 26 6 1 1 10 2
Mike Schultz, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Doug Slaten, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chris Snyder, C
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .217 23 1 5 3 0 0 5 0
Season .252 326 37 82 20 0 13 47 0
Chad Tracy, 3B
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game 1.000 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .286 14 2 4 0 0 1 4 0
Season .264 227 30 60 18 2 7 35 0
Justin Upton, RF
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Last 7 Games .133 15 2 2 0 0 0 0 1
Season .221 140 17 31 8 3 2 11 2
Jose Valverde, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Season .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brandon Webb, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .125 16 1 2 1 0 0 2 0
Season .082 73 1 6 2 0 0 3 0
Bob Wickman, P
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
With Ari .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chris Young, CF
BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .200 30 2 6 0 0 1 2 1
Season .237 569 85 135 29 3 32 68 27
PITCHERS
Randy Choate, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0
Season 0.00 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0
Jeff Cirillo, 3B
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
With Ari 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1
Juan Cruz, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Last 7 Games 3.86 0 0 0 3 4.2 1 2 1 1 10
Season 3.10 6 1 0 53 61 45 21 7 32 87
Doug Davis, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 3.60 0 0 0 1 5 5 2 1 0 2
Last 7 Games 6.28 0 1 0 3 14.1 23 10 3 4 14
Season 4.25 13 12 0 33 192.2 211 91 21 95 144
Dana Eveland, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0.2 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games 12.27 1 0 0 3 3.2 5 5 0 3 2
Season 14.40 1 0 0 5 5 8 8 0 5 3
Edgar Gonzalez, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 15.00 0 1 0 1 3 6 5 0 4 1
Last 7 Games 7.15 1 2 0 3 11.1 20 9 2 5 4
Season 5.03 8 4 0 32 102 110 57 18 28 62
Livan Hernandez, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 9.00 0 1 0 1 4 10 4 1 3 3
Last 7 Games 6.75 1 2 0 3 16 26 12 3 7 7
Season 4.93 11 11 0 33 204.1 247 112 34 79 90
Randy Johnson, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 9.00 0 1 0 1 3 6 3 1 2 2
Last 7 Games 3.60 1 1 0 3 15 17 6 2 6 19
Season 3.81 4 3 0 10 56.2 52 24 7 13 72
Brandon Lyon, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
Last 7 Games 3.00 0 1 0 3 3 3 1 0 0 4
Season 2.68 6 4 2 73 74 70 22 2 22 40
Brandon Medders, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0.1 3 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 3 1.2 3 0 0 0 0
Season 4.30 1 2 0 30 29.1 30 14 9 16 23
Bill Murphy, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 2 0
Last 7 Games 5.40 0 0 0 3 1.2 3 1 0 2 0
Season 5.68 0 0 0 10 6.1 9 4 0 7 2
Dustin Nippert, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 9.00 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1
Last 7 Games 7.71 0 1 0 3 2.1 3 2 1 0 1
Season 5.56 1 1 0 36 45.1 48 28 5 16 38
Augie Ojeda, SS
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Season 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Micah Owings, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 1 0 0 1 6.1 4 0 0 0 4
Last 7 Games 1.02 2 0 0 3 17.2 10 2 1 3 9
Season 4.30 8 8 0 29 152.2 146 73 20 50 106
Jailen Peguero, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 27.00 0 0 0 1 1.2 3 5 0 2 1
Last 7 Games 20.25 0 0 0 3 2.2 3 6 0 4 1
Season 9.20 1 0 0 18 14.2 17 15 2 13 9
Tony Pena, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
Last 7 Games 13.50 0 0 0 3 2 4 3 0 2 3
Season 3.27 5 4 2 75 85.1 63 31 8 31 63
Yusmeiro Petit, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 5 4 0 0 1 4
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 3 7 7 0 0 1 5
Season 4.58 3 4 0 14 57 58 29 12 18 40
Mike Schultz, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
Season 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
Doug Slaten, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 13.50 0 0 0 1 0.2 1 1 0 1 0
Last 7 Games 18.00 0 0 0 3 1 3 2 0 1 0
Season 2.72 3 2 0 61 36.1 41 11 4 14 28
Jose Valverde, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 3
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 2 3 3 2 0 0 2 5
Season 2.66 1 4 47 65 64.1 46 19 7 26 78
Brandon Webb, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 2.57 1 0 0 1 7 8 2 0 2 2
Last 7 Games 3.26 2 0 0 3 19.1 22 7 0 5 10
Season 3.01 18 10 0 34 236.1 209 79 12 72 194
Bob Wickman, P
ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 3 1.2 3 0 0 0 0
With Ari 1.35 0 1 0 8 6.2 6 1 0 1 2
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