2009 DIAMONDBACKS SEASON PREVIEW - PART II

* 2001: A BASEBALL ODYSSEY - If their first three years were an exercise in the improbable, then 2001 saw the Diamondbacks achieve the unthinkable.  Bolstered by the additions of Mark Grace and Reggie Sanders, Arizona played a magical season, regularly winning games late and in dramatic fashion.  The Snakes' stars dominated the batting and pitching leaderboards.  Gonzalez -- now "Gonzo" to his adoring fans -- hit .325 / .429 / .688 with 57 HR and 142 RBI, marks that would have earned him an MVP but for the eye-popping performances of Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa.  Co-aces Johnson and Schilling combined for 43 wins and 665 Ks in 506.1 IP, with the only sub-3.00 ERAs among NL starters. 

The amazing season was epitomized by its final moments, which played out like a kid's backyard baseball fantasy.  Against the three-time defending champion New York Yankees, Schilling (7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 9 K) pitched deep into Game 7 of the 2001 World Series and entered the 7th inning with a 1-1...

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Tags: 2001 World Series, Alfonso Soriano, Chuck Knobloch, Craig Counsell, Curt Schilling, Damian Miller, David Dellucci, David Justice, Derek Jeter, Erubiel Durazo, Jay Bell, Junior Spivey, Matt Williams, Miguel Batista, New York Yankees, Randy Johnson, Rod Barajas, Steve Finley, Tony Womack