Just two years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks suffered through a dismal 110-loss season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Last year, they couldn’t escape the shadow of mediocrity, finishing 14 games below the .500 mark.
Now, against the odds, they find themselves heading to the NLDS for the first time since 2017.
But what makes this journey even more intriguing is that the expectations for the D-backs this year remained relatively unchanged.
As they began the 2023 season, the baseball pundits at ESPN gave them an 18% chance of making the postseason, a projected a record of 78-84, and ranked them 21st in the MLB power rankings.
The Diamondbacks took these expectations to heart.
Though their path to this point had its share of bumps, Arizona persevered with a late-season surge in September to secure a playoff berth.
Then, all it took was two games for them to take down the Brewers and advance to the NLDS.
For Corbin Carroll, poised to be named Rookie of the Year, these low expectations served as a source of motivation throughout the season.
After the D-backs’ 5-2 win over Milwaukee, Carroll emphasized that his team recognizes its talent and, even more importantly, the heart that defines their locker room.
"We know what's in that locker room… we know the heart we have."
– @corbin_carroll following the @Dbacks Wild Card series clinching win!#MLBTonight | #EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/PDxpIBvVrS
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 5, 2023
Carroll also stressed the need for the Diamondbacks to remain grounded, understanding that their journey is far from over.
The D-backs now face the challenge of taking on their NL West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The series is set to begin on Saturday.
