Arizona Diamondbacks: When will the champagne corks pop?

The Arizona Diamondbacks will complete one of the most successful seasons in franchise history.

While most eyes are transfixed on the scoreboard, the rapidly-closing season for the Arizona Diamondbacks will be one of the most successful in their relatively short history.

Before an extraction of numbers, let’s be creative.

Within the next few days, clubhouse attendants will drape individual locker stalls with that ubiquitous plastic wrap and goggles at the ready. That’s when the champagne corks reveal success and the sheer joy of accomplishment.

Coming into play Friday, the Diamondbacks held a magic number of four to clinch the top National League wild card spot. At the same time, the Colorado Rockies’ invitation to this post-season party remains in serious jeopardy. Prior to their Thursday game with the San Diego Padres in Petco Park, the Rox held a slim, one-game advantage over the Milwaukee Brewers and a 2 ½ game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for NL’s second wild card spot.

The combination of four Arizona wins or Colorado losses gives the top wild card spot to the Diamondbacks. The earliest this could occur would be Sunday. Should this be delayed until Monday, then Phoenix could become the center of the American sports universe. At least, for one day.

That’s because the NBA Phoenix Suns hold their media day Monday, the Diamondbacks play the San Francisco Giants at home with a chance to clinch, and the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys are showcased on the Monday night national TV telecast. Plus, the Arizona Coyotes have a pre-season against Anaheim in nearby Tucson.

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For a fleeting moment, the Diamondbacks, if they clinch, will likely drive the NFL Cardinals to the back burner, and champagne will flood the home clubhouse floor in Chase Field.

Overlooked in this moment of euphoria is the achievement of the team. Coming into play Friday night at home against the Miami Marlins, the Diamondbacks hold an 88-66 mark, and have nine games to play. Assuming they break slightly even and win five of their remaining nine, that pushes the win total to 93. That would be good enough for fourth best in franchise history. Should they win seven of their remaining nine and amass 95 wins, that would be the second best in club history. Only the 1999 team with 100 wins was better.

Against the record book, the 2001 team won 98 games, the 2011 team won 94, and the 2001 team win 92 games.

Throughout this journey, manager Torey Lovullo reminds listeners his team is focused solely on the moment and addresses tasks at hand with blinders and purpose.

Approaching the Marlins this weekend, that will be no different.

While Lovullo sprinkled references of post-season play throughout recent remarks to Call to the Pen, his reference is always measured, political and careful. Once those champagne corks are popped in the Arizona clubhouse in the next few days, it’s likely Lovullo will be more exact about post-season discussions and expectations.

Coming up

The series with Miami features two of the top candidates for the NL, MVP award.

Despite the Marlins out of the playoff picture, the exploits of Giancarlo Stanton will be followed closely. Coming into this series, Stanton has 56 bombs and Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks, with 35 home runs, is tied for third in the NL with the Reds’ Joey Votto.

Next: Can Odor recover from his horrendous season?

While sights are set on this MVP pace, the bombardment between Stanton and the Diamondbacks’ J. D. Martinez is also worth noting. Since the All-Star game, Stanton has hit 28 homers, and Martinez slammed 27 round-rippers. The Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson is the only other player in the majors to hit more than 20 (21) since the break

In the series opener, Zack Greinke (17-6, 2.87 ERA) faces Miami lefty Adam Conley (7-7, 5.20). Greinke, who has not lost since Aug. 20, is 3-0 and a 1.56 ERA in his last five starts. Lifetime, he is 5-0 against the Marlins.

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