We actually were compiling our list of top-20 moments and characters from the Arizona Diamondbacks' improbable 2011 season, when (to steal a line from the great Vin Scully), the impossible happened and Ryan Roberts hit his grand-slam walk-off homer to beat the Dodgers.
Scully, of course, made his legendary call when Kirk Gibson hit his own, even more memorable homer off Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series that the Dodgers eventually won. (The late Jack Buck's "I can't believe what I just saw" wasn't so bad, either)
Thankfully, Scully is still at it after 61 years as the best play-by-play man ever. Hell, he was on the air last night from Chase Field, so the circle truly is complete.
Kirk Gibson also is still around, now as the manager of the playoff-bound D-Backs--who are about to complete one of the best turnarounds in baseball history.
Daron Sutton's call of the Roberts' walk-off last night was pretty darned good too (we had turned up the sound by then).
"Incredible!" he shouted, as journeyman Roberts--who already had made our list (to be published over the next several days) of this year's favorite D-Backs--made his way around the bases a la the fist-pumping Gibson.
The win was big for Arizona, which still has a chance to host a playoff game this Saturday night if things fall into place during today's games.
So, let's just start our list of Top 20 D-Back moments and characters right here, with The Homer by Mr. Ryan Roberts in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Arizona a sick 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Stay tuned for the other 19.
