Magic number to two. And a cruelly placed off-day. So, we wait.

The waiting is a little rough, I'll admit. Someone should write a fan confidence article on it or something.

Recaps:

• [AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks jump on Pittsburgh Pirates early, hold on to take series - Just keep winning games. That's what matters.

• [FS Arizona] D-backs open the tool box to beat Pittsburgh - It may not have been a pretty win, but the DBacks got contributions from every side of the field.

• [DBacks.com] D-backs tee up potential NL West title clincher - A little hard to be focused on the win against the Pirates here, since it puts us on the edge- one win this weekend and we're in.

• [CBS Sports] Diamondbacks beat Bucs, eye NL West title - That home run from Miggy was a nice move early in the game.

• [AZ Central] J.J. Putz a force on and off the field for Diamondbacks
   - Wade Miley has been pretty complimentary of J.J.'s skills as a pitcher. And, apparently, at being a gum-placing ninja. "I'm waiting for it. I'm always waiting for it. And then all of a sudden I look, and his gum is on my hat."

• [The D-blog] Bradley embarks on professional career - He was scheduled to pitch at Salt River Fields this afternoon, but I haven't heard any reports on it yet.

• [DBacks Venom] Miguel Montero Rates Highly at Framing Pitches - Miggy's been making a lot of improvements this season. Including one that most of us might not notice.

• [AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks get chance to clinch NL West themselves - It's really hard not to think too far ahead here.

• [NESN] Curtis Granderson an AL MVP Candidate, But Ian Kennedy's Cy Young-Caliber Season Proving Diamondbacks Won 2009 Megadeal - Wow. IPK's WPA is better than Justin Verlander's? Impressive.

• [USA Today] Baseball teams limit consumption of energy drinks by players - I can't say I'm too surprised that the DBacks are doing it.

• [AZ Central] Diamondbacks continue their aggressive baserunning - Hey, and it didn't make us flinch in pain yesterday!

• [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram] Brewers fans should be worried about the Diamondbacks, not the Cardinals - What's up, Milwaukee?

Around Baseball:

• [Amazin' Avenue] Choose Your Own Outrage - On John Smoltz Cheating - Did John Smoltz cheat in the 90s? Maybe. But Amazin' Avenue asks why some things count as cheating, while others don't.

• [ABC News] Fine Wine Makes a Hit at Baseball Parks - I don't really think of wine as my first choice when it comes to a beverage at a game, but, hey, to each their own...

• [ESPN] Manny Ramirez ineligible to join Dominican winter league team - Hold on. I set down my tiny violin, and I'm not sure where it went.

• [San Jose Mercury News] San Francisco Giants beat Los Angeles Dodgers, gain ground in wild-card race - Cody Ross: "To have a team you're facing beat you and celebrate ... that would be tough to swallow." Oh, you just keep making this better for us, don't you, Beady Eyes?

• [CBS Sports] Rawlings releases qualifications for Gold Gloves
  - On one hand, they've added specific awards for each outfield position- no longer will it just be a combination of three random outfielders. On the other, there still isn't any suggestion that you have to be good at defense- good news, Jeter!

• [SF Gate] A's give manager Bob Melvin 3-year contract - BoMel's been a pretty popular choice in Oakland, and he gets to drop the "interim" part of his title now.