There's a lot to like about this year's Diamondbacks

They followed up a 94-win season with what most think was an excellent off-season, with some "experts" even picking the team to reach the World Series.

So, it should come as no surprise that manager Kirk Gibson, on the day pitchers and catchers reported, had some nice things to say about his club.

"On paper it seems like we'd be better," the skipper said. "We feel good about it, no question about it, but you get into ballgames and how do we all come together? We like where we are today."

Ever one to not get too high or too low, Gibson cautioned that it's important not to let success get to their heads.

"Successes can be very dangerous," he said. "We have to kind of continue to do the same things that we did last year, I think, plus more.

"What we did last year was good, but obviously it wasn't good enough, and we have to get better."

And that's why GM Kevin Towers went out and traded for pitchers Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow while signing Takashi Saito and Jason Kubel, adding to last year's squad. Oh yeah, the team returns all its key parts, too.

Kubel, specifically, was a bit of a surprise signing, coming over from the Minnesota Twins after an injury- riddled 2011 where he hit just 12 home runs in 366 at bats. However, the 29-year-old outfielder has a trio of 20+ home run seasons on his resume, and will provide some extra power in a lineup that could use a little more.

"Any way you look at it, one through nine, we're pretty good," Gibson said of his batting order, noting his pitchers can hit, too. "He adds a tremendous bat to our lineup; he comes from a great organization in the Twins, which means something."

But while Gibson is excited about the proven players on his roster, he said the team will get contributions from players no one is really thinking about right now, just as no one was talking about Paul Goldschmidt, Bryan Shaw and Josh Collmenter one year ago.

"There are Goldies, Shaws and Collmenters in our locker room," he said. "Who are they? That's one of the things that Spring Training is all about."

We, like Gibson, are looking forward to seeing who steps up for the Diamondbacks as they embark on a season that begins with promise and expectations.