Captain America leading the Diamondbacks' charge

[BronxBomberz]

IT HAD TO have been a ruse. Oh sure, it seemed perfectly genuine at the time. Captain America supposedly met his untimely demise outside a courtroom in March, and even though ESPN may not have been there to gauge reaction from Superman, the Wonder Twins or any other superhero, it was in all the papers.
But it must've been a mistake. Walk into the Arizona Diamondbacks' clubhouse, and there you'll find him. Eyes poring over videotape, looking for any clue possible to unravel the mystery of that night's opposing pitcher.
"Just doing what it is I've always done," Eric Byrnes says with that trademark "Ah, shucks" tone.
Which is to say, all of those things that earned Byrnes his own Captain America moniker years ago with the A's. Studying hard, working harder and playing like his hair is on fire -- all in his never-ending quest to uphold hustle, aggression and, as the folks down in the desert have come to know it, the Diamondbacks' way.
Oh, and also getting paid more handsomely than anyone, including Byrnes, probably ever imagined. Thirty million big ones over the next three years (shield not included), beginning in April, much to the tears of those at 24 Willie Mays Plaza who may be seeking a left fielder. In short, it's a success story straight out of the comic books.
Back when the original Captain America was still in terrific health, Byrnes was such a fringe prospect that he wasn't deemed worthy of pinch-running in the playoffs (see Giambi, Jeremy; 2001 playoffs). But, six short years later, Byrnes has become the face of the Diamondbacks, their defining personality. "I've never been around a group of guys as willing to do whatever it takes for the good of the team to the detriment of their own personal stuff," said first baseman Tony Clark, who has been around his share during a 13-year career. "And I know for a fact that because of the way Eric goes about his business every day, there's less room for guys to complain about their own circumstances."
In other words, the D'backs should not be mistaken for a team that wears a giant "S." Their cumulative stat tally is as painful to view as the animated "Marvel Superheroes," and not a day goes by when their run-differential isn't mentioned (today's contribution: minus-23). This could be, in short, the worst playoff team to emerge from the Giants' division since the Giants themselves won the National League West with mirrors a decade ago.
How has it been possible? Well, like the ol' Captain A. himself, they've had to work harder. But in doing so, the Diamondbacks, like ol' Byrnsie himself, have shown that superhuman ability is not always needed.
"You're not going to see any team outwork us," manager Bob Melvin said. "We might not play the game well every night, but we do approach the game the right way every night. Eric embodies that as much as anybody."
Not that Byrnes hasn't done his bit to spruce up the numbers. His .296 average, 45 steals and 95 runs already are better than his 2006 figures, though his 21 home runs, 82 RBI and 28 doubles show a decline. Then again, the only figures (besides minus-23) worth remembering for this team are 42 (the consecutive scoreless innings Brandon Webb tossed in August), 45 (the NL-best saves total from once-iffy closer Jose Valverde) and 32 (the number of one-run wins).
All of which is how it should be on a team spearheaded by Byrnes, because he's never been a player who could be defined wholly by stats anyway.
"Byrnes runs through a wall for you, and (Monday night against the Giants) he very nearly did trying to catch a ball," Clark said. "We're all thinking at the time, separated shoulder, bad bruise, whatever. But he never said a word, and here he is the next day, trying to be a better player than he was the previous day. That's what it's about, and when that attitude spills over to everyone else -- and it has here -- you have something special."
Only time will prove how special it may be. But Arizona's arrival date wasn't supposed to come until 2008, and with the talent from one of baseball's best farm systems now being harvested -- please meet Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Stephen Drew and Micah Owings -- their flirtation with a division title doesn't figure to be curtailed anytime soon.
Ditto the tales of you-know-who. If that's not a success story befitting the red, white and blue, good luck finding one.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/athl...nclick_check=1