With July's laborious trade rumors quickly fading and October looming nearer on the horizon, the Arizona Diamondbacks are finally beginning to show the mettle that many have expected from them all year. Following a 2011 season that began with hardball prognosticators predicting an abysmal outcome for the D-Backs and then saw them go on to win their division convincingly, the snakes have floundered under the weight of greater expectations for much of 2012.
Despite staying relatively quiet on the trade front whilst division rivals were beefing up their rosters for a late playoff surge, the 'Backs have begun to show the unflinching grittiness that has come to define manager Kirk Gibson's ball clubs. Win or lose, they play tough when it counts.
Tue., Aug. 21, 6:40 p.m., 2012