ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arizona Diamondbacks are less than 24 hours away from Game One of the World Series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas!
And while D-backs fans may be feeling some anxiety and nerves heading into Game One, they have nothing on the team's President and CEO, Derrick Hall, who said he's going to have trouble sleeping Thursday night.
"I'll be pacing," Hall said. " I'm glad there wasn't a camera on me for those final nine outs in Philadelphia because I was a wreck."
Hall has been with the D-backs since 2005, making this his first trip to baseball's biggest stage with the club. To finally get to make this trip is a dream come true for him.
"It's a pinch-me moment," Hall said. "Still, I'm just, I'm floating. It's 30 years in this game, you dream of being on that stage and getting handed the NL trophy or the World Series trophy one day. That was unreal. And that's the peak. That's the pinnacle. So let's keep going. We have work to do. What I love hearing from all our players is we're not done yet. And I hope they're right."
Hall and the D-backs know they have a huge challenge ahead in the AL Champion Texas Rangers, but to help his team stay relaxed, Hall said the team is bringing the player's families along for the ride.
"That's what we're trying to do is make sure that they're happy and they feel comfortable, and the only thing they have to think about really is baseball," Hall said. "To see the parents of our players, the kids of the players all at the hotel, providing them with breakfast, making sure they have their own charter and then today we've got all of our employees coming. I can't wait till they get out here. We'll hear them here, about 300 of them. It's special anytime you can get to this level you got to make the most of it."
Hall added that he has loved the support from fans back here in the Valley and is especially happy for all of the businesses around Chase Field that will benefit from the sold-out crowds for Games Three, Four and, if necessary, Five. But what has been really cool for Hall has been getting support from the owners of the other pro sports teams in the Valley.
"Hearing from the Ishbias and hearing from Michael Bidwill after every round and hearing from the Coyotes, it's been remarkable," Hall said. "We're a tight community. We support one another you know, the Suns right now getting started the way they are, the Coyotes are playing well. It's fun that they can take the time and congratulate us when they're obviously very excited about their own seasons."
And no matter what the result of this World Series ends up being, Hall says the D-backs will come out winners as they will help them build for the future.
"I think even if we had if we had lost in Milwaukee, I would have said 'hey, with all these 23, 24, 25-year-olds, what great experience for them,'" Hall said. "But now you've won each of your rounds. Not only are you getting the experience of playoff baseball, you're getting the experience of winning in the playoffs. This is quite a foundation for something that we're hoping is going to be sustainable. So if it is, this is really laying great groundwork."
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