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Midseason Report: D-backs are who we thought they were

Jul 1, 2013, 10:47 PM | Updated: Jul 2, 2013, 12:16 am

The narrative may have been overplayed before the season began, but when looking at the Arizona Diamondbacks standing atop the NL West after 81 games, the term grit actually seems apropos.

Through injuries, poor starting pitching, shaky late-inning relief and a roller coaster-esque offense, the D-backs have managed to weather the storm thus far. How have they done it?

By being exactly who we thought they were.

It’s often times been ugly, but Kirk Gibson and Co. have found ways to win games, whether it takes nine innings or 16, whether it’s required a walk-off home run or a squeeze bunt with the score tied.

But if the D-backs are going to make it back to the postseason in 2013 for the second time in three years, they’ll need to do these three things the rest of the way: Make home field count (44 games at Chase Field left), get quality outings on a consistent basis from someone not named Patrick Corbin and stay healthy.

Gibson has been able to remarkably plug in holes to this point, but after the team’s most recent stretch (14 losses in 22 games), I’m not sure they can afford any more notable setbacks — be it a serious injury or another lengthy winless streak from the starting staff.

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Midseason Report: D-backs are who we thought they were