Should D’backs Fans Have High Expectations in 2012?

If you’re an Arizona sports fan, the baring truth is – there aren’t too many expectations for your hometown sports teams. Besides a Suns team led by Sir Charles in the early 90s, a Cardinal squad led by Kurt Warner and a Diamondbacks club led by the duo of Johnson and Schilling, Valley fans haven’t anticipated much from any of their national sports organizations.  A World Series, Super Bowl or NBA Finals ring aren’t expected, yet they’re yearned by local supporters.

This season the D’backs will begin spring training as the reigning National League West Champions, and the team that many predict will once again win the division. In just four years of existence, this Arizona ball franchise has won a World Series and they’ve reached the post season four other times besides their championship year.

So should Arizona fans expect a post season or possibly a World Series appearance in 2012?

The D’backs have reached the postseason five times including their 2001 World Series victory, only two of those appearances have been consecutive, and only in two of those postseason appearances have they passed the NLDS. In 2007 the club advanced to the NLCS and was disappointingly swept by the Colorado Rockies.

Diamondbacks fans held high expectations every single one of these four seasons, only to find themselves repeating “there’s always next season.”

Flash-forwarding to 2012, General Manager Kevin Towers has put together an all-around solid club with great pitching depth, and a stronger bullpen than last season. He has put together a contending club that gives fans every right to hold high expectations.

They should also be prepared to say those four dreadful words, “there’s always next season,” just in case.