The Arizona Diamondbacks’ win-loss record since their inception looks a lot like the stock market as of late.

From their inaugural year of 97 losses, the World Series title in 2001, 111 losses in 2004, division champs in ’07, back to 90+ losses each of the past two seasons, and then this year again division champs, the D-backs have been up and down to say the least.

This year’s team, however, takes the cake in the entertainment department. The 2001 team had an air of elegance and expectations to it that you just expected them to win, and the 2007 team was a fluke. This year’s team has the heart and soul that you beg for from a baseball team. Justin Upton is an MVP candidate, Ian Kennedy has risen from mediocrity in New York to become a Cy Young candidate, and fiery manager Kirk Gibson is a lock for the Manager of the Year award. Even with all of the individual recognition, the thing that stands out about this team is just that: team.

Arizona this year has shown a flair for the dramatic, having won 27 one-run games, and also winning another eight in extra innings. No game this past year may have been more dramatic than against the Houston Astros, where rookie Paul Goldschmidt hit a 2-run home run with two outs and two strikes to tie it, and slumping (at the time) centerfielder Chris Young won it with a 3-run home run in the 10^th inning.

(EDIT: I submitted this blog originally at about 9 p.m. Tuesday night, just before the D-backs’ amazing, come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers. A quick recap: The game goes into the 10th inning tied 1-1 and Micah Owings gives up 5 runs in the top of the 10th. Showing the spirit that this article is all about, the D-backs somehow, someway ended up winning the game 7-6 on a grand slam by Ryan Roberts. They rallied to score 6 runs in the bottom of the tenth, and the rally started with 2 outs. On a scale of 1 to WTF just happened, this game ranked somewhere between unbelievable and “you’re joking, there’s no way that just happened.” You can watch the rally by clicking on the Video tab here.)

That win was just one of their league-leading 45 46 come-from-behind victories. The team never gives up, and never is out of a game, making them a World Series contender come playoff time. Let’s take a look at the key cogs in what makes this D-backs team so exciting:

• Starting pitching: The D-Backs have it. The aforementioned Ian Kennedy is the leader, ranking in the top 10 in ERA and strikeouts, and leading the NL in wins. Daniel Hudson and Joe Saunders have been more than serviceable as numbers two and three in the rotation and rookie Josh Collmenter has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. I would not want to see them in a 5-game series with their rotation.
• Bullpen: David Hernandez and JJ Putz have slammed the door all season long on opposing teams, making Arizona nearly impossible to beat when it has a lead late in the game. Putz has a devastating split-finger fastball, and leads the NL in saves.
• Unexpected heroes: The Goldschmidt story earlier is just one example of the many unlikely players who have stepped up this year and played huge roles. Ryan Roberts wasn’t even expected to make the team this year. Aaron Hill and John McDonald weren’t even on the team until after the trade deadline, yet both have been solid players. Lyle Overbay was washing his car when he was called back to the D-backs and delivered one of the biggest hits of the year against the Phillies. Josh Collmenter used an unconventional pitching motion to become the biggest surprise of the year. You never know who’s going to step up from night to night.
• Management:Kevin Towers has done a masterful job of rebuilding the bullpen after last year’s debacle, and has been willing to remedy his mistakes — as shown by getting rid of Juan Miranda and Melvin Mora — when they don’t work out. But the key to this turnaround has been manager Kirk Gibson. Kirk has completely changed the culture since arriving this spring, making the team tougher and less likely to fall apart in late-game situations. Kirk has instilled a sense of near arrogance in this team, which is shown by their aggressiveness on the base paths. He constantly encourages his team to take chances while running, forcing the defense to make a great play. Put that with his no-nonsense nature and his willingness to stick up for his team in any situation, and the D-backs will follow him anywhere.

Every team needs that leader, but the some of the best instill leadership by showing that they are flawed just like everyone else. Perhaps the story that defines these Diamondbacks comes from earlier this summer. Gibson and the team were working on a bunting drill, and Gibson said he could still put one down and make it down the first base line (video here). After hitting first base, Gibson stumbled head over heels while his team doubled over laughing. Most of the great surprising teams of the past have always had this quality to them, the ability to laugh at themselves, and not take themselves too seriously. The last good Suns team had it in 2010, the Red Sox of 2004 had it, and even the D-backs of 2001 had it.

If you enjoy a fun team that plays the game hard and plays the game right, these D-backs are for you.  Going into the last day of the season today, the Diamondbacks could open at home against the Brewers or Braves, or on the road against the Brewers or Phillies. As a fan, opening at home against the Braves sounds the best, but this team has come back from the brink of defeat too many times to count them out no matter who they play. It should be a wild ride as we move into October.

A couple of side notes this week:

• Arizona State looked awesome this week against USC.  I so far am correct in the fact that ASU is 3-1 after 4 games, but I picked the wrong loss. In the grand scheme of things, we’re much better off that they lost to Illinois rather than USC, but I’m left to wonder what if they had beaten the Illini … The game against Utah on October 8th will be the biggest game in years for ASU.
• My friend Lauren Bratcher had a devastating loss last week, as her parents’ home burned down in a morning house fire. They lost nearly everything, including their three dogs. She has started a website with information and a way to help if possible. Go to www.bratcherhousefire.wordpress.com to see their story and donate to help them recover.