The Arizona Diamondbacks had a pretty good 2008, finishing 2nd in the NL West, though they failed to repeat 2007’s stellar performance. The D’backs are starting the 2009 season as early favorites to win the division, due in no small part to their great starting rotation and overall strength in pitching. The offseason was relatively quiet, with only a few notable changes: Randy Johnson left for the San Francisco Giants and was replaced by Jon Garland, Orlando Hudson went to the Los Angeles Dodgers and was replaced by Felipe Lopez, and Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz left as free agents and were replaced by Tom Gordon and Scott Schoeneweis. The offense is the only question remaining, and the Diamondbacks’ success will depend on youngsters Justin Upton, Chris Young and Stephen Drew meeting their potential. It promises to be an exciting season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, so get your tickets to Chase Field and help the team make it to the 2009 Playoffs!

Early Years

The Arizona Diamondbacks were created as part of the 1998 expansion that also saw baseball arrive in Tampa Bay. Even though they are one of the youngest teams in all of baseball, the Diamondbacks quickly established themselves as a contender. After capturing the NL West title in 1999 they made it all the way to the World Series in 2001 where they defeated the New York Yankees in a thrilling 7 game series.