The Arizona Diamondbacks haven't made the playoffs in five years, but with the additions of stars like pitcher Zack Greinke during the offseason, the D-backs seem poised to end that skid in 2016.
It's no coincidence that D-backs pitcher Daniel Hudson says fans' anticipation for the season is the highest it's been since that last postseason appearance.
"When they see me, they just tell me how excited they are for the season. I really haven't had that at least since 2012 after we went to the playoffs in '11," Hudson said Tuesday.
"You haven't really felt that or heard that from a lot of people until now, so it's exciting."
Hudson's had quite a journey of his own since 2011. After he helped lead the D-backs to the 2011 playoffs as a starting pitcher, he missed over two full seasons of play from 2012-14 due to injuries that required two Tommy John surgeries.
Hudson returned in 2015 as a relief pitcher and figures to have the same role with the D-backs this season. He said the anticipation of the upcoming season among his teammates mirrors that of the fans.
"Everybody's excited to be here. (Manager Chip Hale's) normal message every year and last year, too, is: Don't worry about expectations," he said.
Even with their offseason additions and the fact that the they won 15 more games in 2015 than in 2014, many experts don't believe this year's D-backs are a playoff team. Neither does Vegas, which lists the D-backs' odds to win the 2016 World Series at 30-1.
But regardless of what the expectations are, Hudson said Hale has reminded his team to tune all of that out.
"Everybody was predicting us to lose probably a hundred games last year, and we went out and surprised a lot of people. It's pretty much close to the opposite this year," he said.
"(Hale's message is) just not to worry about expectations or what anybody's really talking about us. Just go out there and play the way we know how to play, and let the results take care of themselves."
