moment, I think, will come when Arizona hits the first bump in the road - how the pundits react will show whether the D'backs have really arrived or not. Will they shrug it off as one of those inevitable rough patches that afflicts every contender? Or will they shrug off Arizona as a team that over-achieved and is now regressing towards its mean?

Donovan straddles the fence artfully, as most writers will this early. "These guys are for real" he says - but he also qualifies that with "it's been a good start" and notes that "so far in '08" scoring hasn't been a problem. (Last year's differential will be with us right through to October.)

Now, please understand, I'm not complaining. Prudence is a major virtue two weeks in (even two months in - just think how the NL eventually shook out in 2007), and I'm delighted to see the team getting so much deserved recognition. But we have to remember that Arizona probably doesn't have the kind of credibility reserve that allows certain bigger-name, bigger-budget teams to survive at the top even when their immediate results might justify a drop. So - let's enjoy our current status, but let's also remember that if we do take a tumble at some point, we shouldn't be surprised or even especially dismayed.

as well.

While its all well and good and no doubt deserved, the additional expectations being placed on them is something we could do without.. at least until further into the season anyway.