ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

MLB analyst: Arizona Diamondbacks played themselves back into race

Aug 2, 2012, 8:47 PM | Updated: 10:04 pm

The Arizona Diamondbacks not only still have life, but they could very well contend for the National League West crown.

ESPN MLB analyst Tim Kurkjian told Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo Thursday don’t look now, but here come the D-backs.

“The Diamondbacks have played themselves back into this thing,” Kurkjian said. “If I were a fan of the Dodgers or Giants, I frankly would be a little bit worried right now.”

Kurkjian points to the fact that the D-backs haven’t even begun to click on all cylinders, yet they’ve positioned themselves as a viable contender in the division.

“The Diamondbacks haven’t hit strides at all yet and there they are right there in the division race,” Kurkjian stated.

While the Dodgers and Giants were out making blockbuster moves at the deadline, the D-backs made a smaller deal, but one that could pay dividends down the stretch.

“They got a red-hot player, which is a great thing,” Kurkjian explained. “Sometimes you acquire a guy for the stretch run and he might play above his head, and [Johnson] might be that guy.”

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