Jesse RogersESPN Editor4 minute read
Jeff Passan Previews Rangers-Diamondbacks World Series
Jeff Passan talks to Scott Van Pelt about the ‘clash of styles’ between the Rangers and Diamondbacks ahead of their World Series showdown.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arizona Diamondbacks defied the odds at every step to advance to the World Series, using naysayers’ doubts as fuel.
“If you’re in a competitive field and someone tells you you can’t do something or they think someone can do it better than you, I think that’s probably the biggest reason for which you are here. are today”, starter of the first match Zac Gallen said Thursday afternoon.
“I don’t think people necessarily thought we couldn’t do it, it was just that no one expected us to be here.”
This is why the Diamondbacks continue to play with a chip on their shoulder in the first game against the Texas Rangers Friday night.
“Nobody knows the magic that’s inside this clubhouse right now,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “No one knows what we are capable of doing on a daily basis. No one knows how hard we work to make this happen.”
Arizona claims to have enough internal motivation to continue, but an external doubt here or there won’t hurt the cause. Only a big underdog can play this card, and the Diamondbacks did not hesitate to use it. They embraced it and used it to their advantage.
“It’s our job to come here, stay motivated and stay focused,” Lovullo said. “I don’t think we need more, but when you need it, it’s like a glass of iced tea. Add a little honey and lemon, it’s perfect. We hear these things, they’re out there. Social media makes it happen very quickly. And it’s really my friends and family who let me know.”
Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon PfaadtTHE Start of game 3expressed similar sentiments.
“When you’re on these low-salary teams, a lot of people think other teams have better guys than you,” Pfaadt said. “We’ve done a good job of overcoming adversity and fighting back. It prepares you for those situations.”
It might have been less surreal if the Diamondbacks were one of the season favorites. They were far from it. In fact, an Arizona win over Texas would be the longest preseason chance for a team to win a World Series.
The Diamondbacks also haven’t been afraid to broach the subject of being fired or forgotten as a contender. After beating the Phillies During the National League Championship Series, Gallen took to social media to post a link for Philadelphia fans to “get these taxes for your next game.”
The link was for Phillies spring training tickets.
“There were a lot of mentions of people in my DMs and stuff like that — they were talking trash,” Gallen said with a smile. “So I figured if they wanted to talk dirty to me, I’d talk back to them. Being from there, I knew how to hit them the hardest. So that was my thinking.
“…It’s over. It’s Thursday, the day before the World Series. So let’s move on.”
He may be moving on, but his manager isn’t. In fact, Lovullo keeps “receipts.”
Lovullo is in a friendly war of words with ESPN “First Take” and MLB Network personality “High Heat” Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who said on his radio show that he would “retire right now” if the Diamondbacks won Games 6 and 7 in Philadelphia.
“A deal is a deal,” Lovullo said. “You can’t walk away from this one, ‘Mad Dog.’ You have to do something…I won’t forgive you until you do something amazing, maybe you will present here and say you’re sorry to the whole team. That’s all I want to say about it.”
Arizona doesn’t need any scoreboard material from the Rangers. He finds plenty elsewhere.
“I think it’s funny,” Lovullo said. “I’m getting there. And we just put it on our list, keep those receipts and walk around with a little more chip on our shoulder. It gives you a little more motivation. And when you can get a little more more , you take it.
