2011 MLB Playoffs: Arizona Diamondbacks Have the Potential to Make a Deep Run

The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently 90-66 and the third-best team in the National League behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers. Absolutely no one predicted the D-Backs would win this many games, and realistically, more people would have guessed their record to be 66-89. But boy have they proved everyone wrong with their play. 

Game after game, the team has performed consistently and is finally getting the national recognition that has been lacking all season. They're fighting to avoid the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round, as is every NL team, and needs to perform well in this weekend's series against the San Francisco Giants. 

When the team finally clinches the division and solidifies its spot in the playoffs, then it can start looking at matchups to see who would be better to play. The team's best option would be to pass the Brewers for the second seed, that way Milwaukee could try its hand at an upset and the D-Backs could face a reeling Atlanta squad. 

This scenario could catapult Arizona into a very interesting situation, with the possibility to make a deep postseason run. The ideal matchup would be to face the Braves then the Brewers, but the Phillies are easily the best team in the league and won't go down easily. Therefore, the D-Backs would have to match up against the dominate Phillies. 

Regardless of who the Diamondbacks play, they are built to contend in close games, which is perfect for postseason baseball. With 45 come-from-behind wins, the D-Backs are never truly out of the game and always fight until the finish. Resiliency is a great trait for a team to have in postseason play and, usually, helps with a win or two.

Arizona has the talent to make a deep run both on offense and pitching, despite a lack of "stars."  Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy may get the national attention, but there's no way the team is at this point without the help from Ryan Roberts, Daniel Hudson, J.J. Putz, David Hernandez, or Miguel Montero.

This squad has the makings of a spoiler team in October, and I fully expect it to make some noise in the National League playoffs.