Kirk Gibson hopes the ‘experts’ are right

With improvements in the starting pitching (Trevor
Cahill), bullpen (Craig Breslow) and outfield (Jason
Kubel), the Diamondbacks are positioned to not only defend
their NL West division title, but perhaps advance deep
into the playoffs.

In fact, several of baseball’s so-called experts predict
the D-backs to represent the National League in the 2012
World Series.

“I hope they’re right,” said manager Kirk Gibson, “but I
know they don’t know what they’re talking about. Nobody
does. Think of all the people who make predictions, what
percentage of them are right?”

Gibson called the talk “fun.”

“We would be lying if we didn’t say it was a compliment to
us,” he continued Thursday prior to the team’s final
workout before Opening Day.

“At the same time, we all understand that we’re far from
being there. It’s going to be a long, hard fought battle.
There will be a lot of trying and adverse times that we
got to fight through to get to; mentally and physcially
we’ll have to hold up to it.”

Follow @theAdamGreen