Gibson: D-backs in better position than Cardinals were in 2011

Although the Arizona Diamondbacks enter their upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers six games out of the second Wild Card spot in the National League, manager Kirk Gibson still believes his team has a fighting chance as September rolls along.

With an upcoming eight-game home stand against three divisional foes — Dodgers, Giants and Padres — Gibson has faith his team can make a push similar to that of the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

“I think we are in a better position now than the Cardinals were last year at this time,” Gibson said Tuesday on his weekly radio spot with Arizona Sports 620’s Burns & Gambo. “Nobody thought they could do it, but that’s why you play the games.”

On this date a year ago, the eventual World Series champions were 79-67 and 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals needed a win on the final night of the season along with a loss by the Braves just to secure their spot in the postseason.