ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

The Arizona Diamondbacks have the San Fransisco Giants rattled

Aug 25, 2011, 4:01 PM | Updated: 5:11 pm

It’s not just the national media who is starting to take notice of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The defending world champion San Fransisco Giants are too.

According to D-backs president Derrick Hall, the Giants are concerned enough about his team to attempt to stop them from making deals before the August 31 waiver deadline.

“Coming off of a 97 loss season it’s nice that the Giants are taking us serious and are worried about us,” Hall told Sports 620 KTAR’s Doug and Wolf Thursday morning. “They put claims on almost all of our guys to block other teams from making deals with us. So we are in their heads a little bit which is nice to see.”

Why are the D-backs in the Giants’ heads and in sole possession of first place in the NL West? Hall gives the credit to a motley crew of key players who are having solid seasons for the D-backs.

“If you talk about our MVP it’s Justin Upton or Ian Kennedy,” Hall said. “I also look around the entire field and one guy that never gets talked about is Garardo Parra. He’s hitting close to .300 all season. Doing the little things. He gets multiple hit games with no one really paying attention. Miguel Montero has been having a great season. Ryan Roberts has really been the heart of that team.”

Hall’s team will need all of those guys to step up and perform as well — if not better — than they have all season if they want to retain the division lead and make the postseason. While their current road trip hasn’t exactly be stellar, Hall understands how important it was to return home with the lead in the NL West still intact and sees good things on the horizon.

“We said if we can finish this road trip and still be in first place look out, we’ve got something. Now we’re closer to September and things are really going to heat up.”

It certainly will, as long as the D-backs’ backs heat up. So far in August they’re hitting just .221. If that doesn’t improve, the team could be in trouble with two three-game series against the Giants in the final month.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

1 hour ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

5 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

8 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

10 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

11 hours ago

Chase Field flyover...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks’ Hall ‘battling’ to keep Chase Field roof open for Opening Day

The roof at Chase Field continues to be a hot button topic, especially after an exhibition game was rained out on Monday.

11 hours ago

The Arizona Diamondbacks have the San Fransisco Giants rattled