Arizona Diamondbacks: Clinch! Taking Home the NL West Crown

The Arizona Diamondbacks have done it. The NL West title is theirs. The team that was 65-97 last year came out of nowhere to capture the crown. This year's team is the true surprise of baseball and is now 91-66.

The D'Backs won the West in dramatic fashion, dethroning the defending World Series champion. The San Francisco Giants were done in by up-and-coming rookie first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on Friday night. The D'backs won the game, 3-1.

Capturing the NL West is something that the team hasn't done since 2007. This year's team looks to be a contender for years to come. Led by Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy, the Diamondbacks have two solid cornerstone players for the franchise.

If the playoffs started today, the team would travel to Philadelphia to face the Phillies. Philly has been the odds on favorite to win the World Series all season but have lost six straight games.

It's not hard to figure out that they are resting their squad for the postseason, but there comes a point where losing becomes contagious. Not to say the Phillies have the bug, but anything is possible in October. 

To be honest, the Diamondbacks would prefer being the underdog. They want to go into that hostile environment with nothing to lose. Manager Kirk Gibson wouldn't have it any other way.

He's brought this club to where it's at because of a tough mentality. He deserves to be the NL Manager of the Year at season's end. Gibson has turned this franchise around seemingly overnight.  A team that was an afterthought going into the season in now one of its best.

The rest of league will get to see just how good this team in just a few short days when they travel into Philadelphia.

Maybe then, they will get the respect that they deserve.