ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Perfect Putz credits Gibson for Diamondbacks’ success

May 27, 2011, 1:47 AM | Updated: 3:43 am

Things are coming together for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A 15-win month of May has seen them return to a .500 record, a feat that seemed impossible in recent memory (see last season). They have won five of a potential eight series this month, including consecutively sweeping both the Braves and Twins.

Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz has been perfect this season in his 14 opportunities, racking up 14 saves. While he doesn’t consider himself to have been perfect, Putz was quick to attribute his team’s recent success to manager Kirk Gibson.

“I think guys are really starting to buy in to the way that Gibby and the coaching staff expect of us to play from the get-go,” Putz said in a Thursday interview with Sports 620 KTAR’s Gambo and Ash.

If all it took for the D-backs to return to winning was a new manager, Gibson should have been brought in a long time ago. While the no-bull attitude boss has a 60-73 record since being named Interim Manager last year, the team’s new approach to the game is palpable.

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