A hard working team, a hard working manager, a memorable time in America

This weekend will mark ten years since the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, 9/11; a trying time perhaps never seen before in the United States. Not two months later, we were treated and perhaps consoled by one of the most memorable World Series in history: the Yankees, getting more applause at that time than ever, playing the Arizona Diamondbacks. A heart stopping seven game masterpiece capped off by a walk off single courtesy of Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez. Fast forward ten years to 2011. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Yankees back in the Fall Classic. And as fate may have it, they could very well meet the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Yankees still have the greats like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada on their roster, but the team also has other great players like Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia to get them back to the World Series. The Diamondbacks on the other hand, don’t have those superstars. Yes, they still have Matt Williams, but now he is coaching 3^rd base instead of playing 3^rd base. Other than Williams, the Diamondbacks are not only a totally different team than the past, but also a team that is mostly unrecognized and unknown. The D’Backs do have Justin Upton, an All-Star this season who is hitting just under .300 and has an outside chance of going 30/30 (30 HRs and 30 stolen bases in a season). Other than Upton, the D’Backs are a bunch of nobodies in the eyes of baseball fans and critics. For instance, has there ever been a pitcher in baseball with a year as good as Ian Kennedy that got such little recognition? He’s a major Cy Young Award candidate, going 18-4 with an E.R.A. just under three, yet no one is talking about him. Oddly enough, most baseball fans would recognize the names of the coaching staff of Arizona before their starting lineup. Let me list two groups of names for you. Group one: Ryan Roberts, Gerardo Parra, Kelly Johnson, Miguel Montero. Group two: Charles Nagy, Eric Young, Don Baylor, Allan Trammell. As you probably figured out, group two is made up of members of the coaching staff while group one are everyday position players. All of these names deserve credit for being the team in first place and are certainly on their way to the playoffs. In addition to these guys, the leader, Kirk Gibson, who is in his first full year of managing and is for the most part flying under the radar, also deserves a lot of the credit. Gibson, being remembered mostly for hitting the two-run bomb that won game 1 of the World Series in 1988 despite being sidelined for hamstring and knee injuries, was a very talented leader during his playing days and has carried those skills over into his coaching career.
We all know about Gibson’s October magic, but let’s take a look at Kirk Gibson’s playing career. An ex-football player from Michigan State, he was the emotional leader for two World Series winners (1984 Tigers and 1988 Dodgers). During those years, he played for two hard nose managers, Sparky Anderson and Tommy Lasorda. In 1988, his magical season, he won the National League MVP. Oddly enough, he didn’t make it to the All-star game that year. In fact, he is the only MVP winner in a season that did not make the All-star team. Overall, in his seventeen year career, he never made an All-star team, which is a surprise. That fact may just be what makes him a perfect fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D’backs are not a flashy franchise. They are not the most exciting team and are not leading the world in hitting, pitching or even fielding for that matter. But like their fiery manager, they give it all they’ve got and maybe, just maybe, they out work you. In 1988, Gibson was having dinner with then Dodgers General Manager Fred Claire. Gibson stated, “I want to win. And I just want you to know, I may have to bang some heads.” Claire replied, “Kirk, why do you think you’re here?” It wouldn’t be a surprise if Gibson had a similar conversation with current Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers.

In the beginning of this year, we all watched the Pittsburgh Pirates get off to such a great start. They started as the feel good story of 2011. Then, as their season took a turn for the worse and the hype began to fade, we heard chatter about the Cleveland Indians trying to hold on to first place in their respected division. We then watched the Tigers overtake the Tribe, stealing some of the excitement. But what about Arizona? After stealing two of three in San Francisco, they hold a seven game lead over the World Champion Giants. Gibson has probably already locked up his Manager of the Year Award. It is unlikely that the D’backs will get caught in the playoff race for the National League West. Following the leadership of their manager, their journey into the playoffs will be gritty, gutsy play where the team will do whatever it takes to win and will love and enjoy the big moments. They will give you 100% of 100%. If they only have 60% that day, they will give 100% of 60%. Each of the players in the lineup will gladly go 0-for-5 in a win than 3-for-5 in a loss. They will do what it takes because that’s what Kirk Gibson would do. After all, when asked about his 1988 Dodgers team, Gibson said: “We busted our ass. Okay?!”

With that attitude and leadership, the Arizona Diamondbacks will undoubtedly be in the fight for the title of “World Series Champions.” And only as would be written in a Hollywood fairytale, maybe, just maybe, they could meet the Yankees, in a World Series that would have the teams meet again, 10 years later, for a series of such significance to the American people.