This one hurts. I’m not sure why. I’ve had my heart broken too many times as an Arizona sports fan. I tore down the posters in my room that I couldn’t see because my eyes were covered with tears, I wish they had been covered a minute earlier as John Paxson, not Michael Jordan drained a finals ending 3-pointer in 1993. I watched a back-up catcher hit a ball through the glove of Steve Finley and over the wall in 1999. In 2001 it seemed as though things had changed in the Desert as the D-Backs brought home the first major professional sports championship in Arizona Sports history. The Suns proved that the curse was alive and well as they followed by giving the city high hopes for NBA titles in three consecutive seasons, only to fall to injuries, controversy, and scandal.But for some reason this one hurts equally as bad.
Maybe it’s the fact that the D-Backs weren’t supposed to be good this season. They weren’t supposed to make the playoffs, win the division, and sweep the Cubs in impressive fashion. Maybe it’s the fact that the impossible was happening for the Snakes.
Then again, maybe it’s the fact that they not only lost, but got flat out embarrassed by a team that has done nothing but bore Arizona fans from the outset of the Diamondbacks existence. A team that never came close to making the playoffs in any of the 10 years the D-Backs have been around. The Giants battled the D-Backs in an intense rivalry that lasted almost five years, the Dodgers have always been a hated foe and continued threat to the D-Backs playoff hopes throughout the years. Hell, even the Padres have been competitive the last few years. But this team that has thoroughly embarrassed the Diamondbacks is the only remaining team in baseball that wears PURPLE. This team plays in a ballpark that has always been the joke of the league. A place where bloops are base hits, base hits are doubles, and doubles are home runs. A place that is often more than half empty unless there is a post-game fireworks show to celebrate a Rockies loss. I’m not even sure what to say about their mascot, Barney the giant purple dinosaur… just stupid!
But just maybe it was the Snakes showing the immaturity and lack of experience they kept hidden so well all season long. The timely hitting that took place all season drowned in the Denver rain. The defense that shined in the Desert seemed to freeze in the thin Colorado air. D-Backs hitters uncharacteristically chased everything in sight, high fastball after high fastball. Stephen Drew, the Diamondbacks best hitter this post season popped out on a 3-0 count with 1 out in the final inning of the season. And finally, it seemed appropriate that a uncharacteristically stupid Byrnes who promised to lead his team in the final game of the series went hitless, making the final out on a first pitch check swing.
What hurts the most is that the Rockies stole the D-Backs fairytale season and turned it into their own improbable fantasy. They became the experienced youthful team, and made the Baby Backs look like they still belonged in the minor leagues.
Who would have thought, that ASU would be the only team yet to break my heart this season! But then again, the season is only 6 games old, they’ll get their chance! I guess that’s life in the Desert!
Maybe it’s the fact that the D-Backs weren’t supposed to be good this season. They weren’t supposed to make the playoffs, win the division, and sweep the Cubs in impressive fashion. Maybe it’s the fact that the impossible was happening for the Snakes.
Then again, maybe it’s the fact that they not only lost, but got flat out embarrassed by a team that has done nothing but bore Arizona fans from the outset of the Diamondbacks existence. A team that never came close to making the playoffs in any of the 10 years the D-Backs have been around. The Giants battled the D-Backs in an intense rivalry that lasted almost five years, the Dodgers have always been a hated foe and continued threat to the D-Backs playoff hopes throughout the years. Hell, even the Padres have been competitive the last few years. But this team that has thoroughly embarrassed the Diamondbacks is the only remaining team in baseball that wears PURPLE. This team plays in a ballpark that has always been the joke of the league. A place where bloops are base hits, base hits are doubles, and doubles are home runs. A place that is often more than half empty unless there is a post-game fireworks show to celebrate a Rockies loss. I’m not even sure what to say about their mascot, Barney the giant purple dinosaur… just stupid!
But just maybe it was the Snakes showing the immaturity and lack of experience they kept hidden so well all season long. The timely hitting that took place all season drowned in the Denver rain. The defense that shined in the Desert seemed to freeze in the thin Colorado air. D-Backs hitters uncharacteristically chased everything in sight, high fastball after high fastball. Stephen Drew, the Diamondbacks best hitter this post season popped out on a 3-0 count with 1 out in the final inning of the season. And finally, it seemed appropriate that a uncharacteristically stupid Byrnes who promised to lead his team in the final game of the series went hitless, making the final out on a first pitch check swing.
What hurts the most is that the Rockies stole the D-Backs fairytale season and turned it into their own improbable fantasy. They became the experienced youthful team, and made the Baby Backs look like they still belonged in the minor leagues.
Who would have thought, that ASU would be the only team yet to break my heart this season! But then again, the season is only 6 games old, they’ll get their chance! I guess that’s life in the Desert!
