Diamondbacks fueled by doubters during World Series march - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arizona Diamondbacks have defied the odds every step of the way in making it to the World Series, using naysayers' doubts as fuel.

«If you're in any sort of competitive field and somebody tells you [that] you can't do something or they think somebody can do it better than you, I think that's kind of the main reason probably why you're where you are today,» Game 1 starter Zac Gallen said Thursday afternoon.

«I don't think it was necessarily that people thought we couldn't do it, it was just that no one expected us to be here.»

Which is why the Diamondbacks continue to play with a chip on their shoulder entering Game 1 vs. the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

«Nobody knows the magic that's sitting inside that clubhouse right now,» manager Torey Lovullo said. «Nobody knows what we're capable of doing on a daily basis. Nobody knows how hard we're working to make today happen.»

Arizona claims it has enough internal motivation to keep it going but an external doubt here or there won't hurt the cause. Only a heavy underdog can play that card, and the Diamondbacks haven't shied away from it. They've embraced it and used it to their advantage.

«It's our job to come here, stay motivated and stay focused,» Lovullo said. «I don't think we need extra, but when you get extra, it's like a glass of iced tea. Add a little bit of honey and lemon to it, it tastes perfect. We hear those things, they're out there. Social media makes it happen really quick. And it's really my friends and my family that are dropping it in my lap.»

Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, the Game 3 starter, expressed similar sentiments.

«It is what it is when you're one of those low payroll teams that a lot of people think other teams have