5 ways the Diamondbacks can still come back in NLDS
After falling behind 2-0 in the series, here are five ways the Diamondbacks can still make an NLDS comeback.
The first two games have not gone as well as planned for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following a dramatic win over the Rockies in the wild-card, the D-Backs were set to square-off against another division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although many viewed this series as over before it even began, there were still reasons to believe in this seemingly rag-tag Arizona team. But the Diamondbacks have quickly found themselves in a 2-0 hole that teams very seldom escape from.
Amazingly, there remain reasons to believe in the Diamondbacks. Of course, the strength of the Dodgers is their pitching, but Arizona has taken advantage of that. The Diamondbacks have racked up 10 runs over the course of two games. The D-Backs offense has continued to stay hot in the postseason, so they have that going for them. On the other hand, the Arizona defense has been cold, accumulating three errors in the series’ first two games. There’s no question about it, the Diamondbacks have to limit errors. The Dodgers, one of the most fundamentally sound squads in baseball, will capitalize on any and all mistakes. Therefore, Arizona has to ideally eliminate self-inflicted wounds.
Coming back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series is incredibly hard, but not exactly impossible. Here are five ways that the Diamondbacks can make a comeback against the Dodgers in the NLDS and keep their season alive.
5. Fight through with all that heart
You won’t find an ounce of quit in this Arizona team. The Diamondbacks are one of baseball’s most enjoyable teams to watch because they wear their hearts on their sleeves in every game. Arizona is having fun on the diamond and it makes the team significantly more interesting to follow.
When analyzing the amount of fight and passion in this Diamondbacks squad, look no further than 2016. The D-Backs finished the 2016 season at 69-93, one of the MLB’s worst records. They were continuously counted out, disregarded and laughed at this season because of it. And yet, they’ve proven that they’re one of baseball’s elite teams in 2017. Furthermore, the Diamondbacks have nothing left to prove. They turned a near 100-loss team into a near 100-win team in just one season, which is unheard of.
Early in the season, when the D-Backs found themselves 20 games back of the Dodgers in the division, they could’ve easily given in and given up. Instead, they made a decision to fight. Although a division title was far out of reach, the wild-card spots were still up for grabs. So, Arizona took the top wild-card spot in the NL with the best record amongst all four wild-card teams in the league. They fought through the wild-card game to get into the NLDS, where they currently stand with their backs against the wall. The Diamondbacks have proven everything they needed to and exceeded expectations. Now, there’s no more pressure, just play.
The Diamondbacks have already made Arizona proud and they will have the chance to please their home crowd once, maybe twice, more during the NLDS.