The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the postseason for the first time since 2011 with a handful of vets who bring quite a bit of playoff experience to the club.
This year’s roster boasts two members of that 2011 team, Paul Goldschmidt and David Hernandez. Eight other players combine for 21 postseason appearances.
Utility man David Descalso and outfielder Gregor Blanco are the only two who have World Series rings. Descalso won it in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blanco was a two-time champion with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and 2014.
With four seasons ending in playoff runs, Descalso’s advice to the young guys is to not do anything extra.
“One thing I would tell them is don’t try to do anything more than what we’ve done to get here,” Descalso said. “We don’t need to do anything extra, if we start to do too much that’s when things can spiral out of control.”
Catcher Jeff Mathis kept the Angels alive in the 2009 postseason with a walk-off double in the 11th inning of Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees.
Mathis said having guys with experience in postseason moments like that is huge for a club.
“It’s gonna help for sure,” Mathis said. “Experience in anything is good. It’s going to help out some of these younger guys and hopefully we can get this thing done.”
Outfielder J.D. Martinez played in the American League Division Series with the Detroit Tigers in 2014. The Wild Card game is a game he said he’s always wanted to play.
“I’ve watched this game the last couple years,” Martinez said. “It’s a very unique game and I think if you’re going to get into the playoffs, this is the way to get in.”
For Blanco, the preparation for Wednesday’s Wild Card game is no different than preparing for the Division Series. He said with in both scenarios you just have to go out and have fun.
“It’s the same preparation, the same mindset,” Blanco said. “Not everybody can go to the playoff. You’ve got to enjoy it the most you can. You’ve got to play like a little kid when you played in your backyard.”
D-backs Postseason Experience
Daniel Descalso (St. Louis)
2011 – World Series Champion, opponent Rangers
2012 – NL Wild Card* NLCS, loss to Giants
2013 – World Series loss to Red Sox
2014 – NLCS, loss to Giants
Gregor Blanco (San Francisco)
2012 – World Series Champion, opponent Tigers
2014 – World Series Champion, opponent Royals
2016 – NLDS, loss to Cubs
Jeff Mathis (LA Angels)
2007 – ALDS, loss to Red Sox
2008 – ALDS, loss to Red Sox
2009 – ALCS, loss to Yankees
Chris Iannetta (LA Angels)
2014 – ALDS, loss to Royals
JJ Hoover (Cincinnati)
2012 – NLDS, loss to Giants
2013 – NL Wild Card* loss to Pirates
J.D. Martinez (Detroit)
2014 – ALDS, loss to (Orioles)
Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona)
2011 – NLDS, loss to Brewers
David Hernandez (Arizona)
2011 – NLDS, loss to Brewers
Zack Greinke
(Milwaukee)
2011 – NLDS, win against Diamondbacks
NLCS, loss to Cardinals
(LA Dodgers)
2013 – NLCS, loss to Cardinals
2014 – NLDS, loss to Cardinals
2015 – NLDS, loss to Mets
Fernando Rodney
(Detroit)
2006 – World Series, loss to Cardinals
(Tampa Bay)
2013 – AL Wild Card* ALDS, loss to Red Sox
(Chicago Cubs)
2015 – NLCS, loss to Mets
