Well, at least we won't be the first team eliminated from the post-season, as our expansion siblings just bit the big one against the Rangers. And if the Yankees lose tonight, they'll be eliminated as well, likely before our fate is decided. As far as we're concerned, win one. That's all I want for today. If we can do that, then we'll take care of tomorrow when we get there. But let's just not get swept: one at a time.
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"We are now sold out for tonight! Wear your red and get here early. @dbacks are ready and this place will be rocking!" - Derrick Hall on Twitter.
- [FSAZ] D-backs turn to cool, calm Collmenter - "No one personifies the Diamondbacks' regime change more than rookie Josh Collmenter, who will get the ball in their must-win game Tuesday."
- [AZCentral] Montero seeks pop at the plate - "I feel like I'm putting good swings, but I haven't been getting the good results," Montero said. "Hopefully, I'll get in a good situation where I can hit and drive in a couple of runs and help the team. But if I'm not hitting, I can help the team catching and help my pitching staff get through their whole lineup. That's my role."
- [ESPN] 2011 NLDS: Diamondbacks don't give up - Willie Bloomquist says, "It's going to be the toughest test we've had all year long. But it can be done. We're not going to fold up our tents and leave just yet."
- [AZCentral] Kirk Gibson not fazed by criticism - "I find it amusing that people are second-guessing," the Diamondbacks manager said. "It's not over yet."
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[dbacks.com] D-backs plan to open roof for Game 3 - "We're not supposed to have any rain," Derrick Hall said. "If we do get rain it's supposed to be in the early afternoon when the roof will be closed. We just have some wind issues, so we're going to monitor that, but we expect the roof to be open." However, it's looking a bit dodgy at the time of writing...
- [Yahoo!] D-backs looking to play better at home in Game 3 - "We prospered together and we failed together and that’s the way it will remain," Gibson said. "We understand people are going to have opinions on how things are happening... We’re still competing, we’re still in the series."
- [New York Times] Gibson Has One Game to Put End to Two Slumps - - "The Diamondbacks have embodied little of Gibson's old-school grit in falling behind, 2-0, to the Milwaukee Brewers in their National League division series. Errors, a lack of timely hitting and questionable strategy by Gibson, Arizona's first-year manager, have led to costly meltdowns heading into Tuesday night's Game 3."
- [ESPN] Brewers look to secure NLCS berth - "Since sweeping the Cubs in the 2007 NLDS, Arizona has dropped six straight postseason games." Ouch.
- [AZCentral] Kirk Gibson wouldn't shift rotation - Looks like it will be Saunders tomorrow (if necessary...). "We've talked about it," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We have confidence in Joe and Ian. I think that's the best chance we have to win the series."
- [Big League Stew] Helping the Diamondbacks get back to Milwaukee - Not dissimilar to our own piece, this offers "A short list of suggested adjustments — both mental and strategic — to help them avoid being the only three-and-out in this year's playoffs"
- [dbacks.com] D-backs staying mentally strong with backs against NLDS wall - "The team employs mind and performance specialist, Peter Crone. Crone is reluctant to discuss the details of his role with the team... "I've known about conversations that Peter has had with individual players, and it seems like that day or the next day, boom, there's positive results," [Kevin] Towers said. "So I'm a big believer in it."
- [USATODAY.com] MLB's postseason no match for NFL's Week 4 - "In Phoenix, that Sunday Diamondbacks-Brewers game drew 5.7% of households — while the Giants-Cardinals NFL game drew 21.5% of local households." Sad.
- [AZCentral] Diamondbacks' Josh Collmenter set for prime time - "I pitched in a couple playoff games in college," Collmenter said. "But probably the biggest one was starting the state-championship game my senior year in high school."