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Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks fought back in the NLCS at home, taking two of their three home matchups. Now, they head back on the road needing to win both games if they're to get back to the World Series for the first time in over two decades.
The manager knows that his young team is about to embark on their toughest test to date. Before Game 6, the manager attempted to fire up his team with a blunt statement.
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Per Bob Nightengale, Lovullo said:
"We didn’t come across country to get our ass kicked.’’
The Philadelphia Phillies notoriously have some of the loudest fans in sports. Visiting there during the playoffs is an intense endeavor, and it usually doesn't end well. The Diamondbacks lost both games in Philly, and now they will have to win both.
Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and company thrive on the home crowd and how raucous they can get. Paul Sewald admitted earlier that the fans played a huge role in the series.
Now, the Diamondbacks will have to travel all the way across the country to try and win two games in one of the toughest ballparks. Torey Lovullo assures everyone that they will not go down without a fight.
Can Torey Lovullo lead the Diamondbacks to the World Series?
Torey Lovullo has a less than enviable task this week. He has to go to Philadelphia and manage his young, relatively inexperienced team to victory not once, but twice. The Diamondbacks are in a 3-2 hole and that's not good for a team going on the road.
They have the talent, otherwise they wouldn't have swept both the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers (four of five games were on the road). Nevertheless, this is their biggest test and they will need all hands on deck. That means slumping offensive players will need to turn it on or risk their dream season ending prematurely.
That is no easy feat, but it's the mountain they must climb regardless of how they feel about it.
