Thoughts from the Bleachers

Throughout the course of this inaugural season, this team and this franchise has grown and learned from their mistakes. As the year started, the team was made up of 25 individuals. Each of them doing the best job they could, but they lacked one thing: team chemistry. As the first home stand showed, nine individual efforts cannot guarantee a successful outcome. It was only when the players became better aquatinted and understood each other's strengths and weaknesses that they began to win. Over the course of the season wins were hard fought and in some cases far between; but the team consistently tried to work together. Each month showed improvement from the 7-19 record in April to the 12-11 record in September. The team began to think and act as a group rather than a collection of individuals.

There were many things that stood out over the course of this season. The resilience of Travis Lee fighting adversity and making his mark on this franchise. He has carried himself with dignity and has the makings of a perennial all-star player. Devon White showed why he was so important last year to the Florida Marlins. He set the record this year for an expansion player by hitting 22 home runs and stealing 22 bases. Andy Fox showed his adaptability for playing anywhere he was asked. Starting at six different positions, Andy made it look easy. All year we as a family watched, hoping he would be given the opportunity to play all nine positions. David Dellucci, fighting back after not making the opening day roster to become a valuable asset in left field and to lead the National League in triples. His nightly diving catches always brought the fans to their feet. His work ethic and dedication were impressive to watch. Andy Benes who tied the record for most wins by an Expansion team pitcher with fourteen. His work off the field was as impressive as his game performance, providing countless hours of his time for charity work for the community. Matt Williams for being a role model and foregoing an opportunity to win a world championship so that he could be close to his children.

I feel as though I have gotten to know each of these players personally. I have spent the summer watching as they go about their jobs, each polished and professional. They have taken time from their schedules to talk with the people and sign autographs for the children. As a parent I appreciate their efforts, as a baseball fan I applaud it. The only regret I have from this magical season is that it must end.

The Streak

When the season began, I had planned on attending several of the Diamondback home games. I assumed there would be days I could not go or would not. I had never anticipated attending every ball game at Bank One Ballpark. With each game, there was something new. Whether it was a player from another team I had not yet seen, or the curiosity of what was new at the stadium, I kept coming back game after game. I had started out keeping score at opening night and over the course of the season went through three score books. Baseball became a part of me and my personality. My kids joked that if it wasn't on the JumboTron then dad didn't know it existed. I do not feel I was obsessed, though my wife may debate that, but rather enthused. I had an opportunity to share as a franchise rose from the desert and brought the national pastime to our community. Along the way I met people from all around the world. I sat next to people from Japan to Globe. I became aquatinted with the ushers and concessionaires on a first name basis and learned more about baseball and Bank One Ballpark than I could ever have dreamed. It has given me an appreciation of what I have. As I sit in my seats for the final time for the 1998 season, I will reflect on all I have seen this summer and project ahead to what the future will hold. If this year was any indication, this team is going to be good.