5 most important questions for the Diamondbacks ahead of Opening Day

Is there anything better than Opening Day?

Finally, after months of questions, it’s time for us to start getting some answers with the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. (And holy guacamole, does that have a nice ring to it?)

Last season, the DBacks slithered in when no one expected much. This season, the baseball world has heard the rattle and hiss, so no one will be surprised by any snakes in the outfield grass.

It’s time to find out everything we’ve been wondering since November, when Arizona messed with Texas in the World Series.

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Was last season’s playoff run that saw Arizona beat up on the mighty (and mighty expensive) Dodgers and Phillies a fluke?

That was the narrative doubters tried to write, saying the Diamondbacks didn’t “deserve” to be in the Fall Classic and only got there because an expanded playoff format allowed in teams that never would have qualified under the old rules.

But the only teams that “deserve” anything are those that win the games that count the most.

Maybe Arizona wasn’t “supposed” to be in the World Series, but don’t give me nonsense about whether they “deserved” to be there. Of course, they did.

Baseball is a sport for traditionalists, so the argument had at least some merit. But the “two playoff teams per league” format has been gone since 1995, so is anyone trying to invalidate three decades of championships involving a wild-card team?

Good luck with that. Including last year’s DBacks and Rangers, 16 wild cards have made the World Series.

So, if the DBacks shouldn’t have been there, then a whole lot of teams shouldn’t have been there either.

But was it a fluke?

Of course, it was, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again.

DBacks manager Torey Lovullo somehow snaked his team through the playoffs with a starting rotation of two and a half men. (Surely, Charlie Sheen must have screamed “Winning!” after every Arizona victory.)

Zac Gallen was an All-Star. Merrill Kelly should have been an All-Star. And Brandon Pfaadt grew up faster than a weed in the desert, even if Lovullo only let him go three or four innings in every start.

After that, Lovullo was playing matchups and hunches and asking for volunteers, and somehow it worked.

This year, Lovullo should have a full rotation (maybe his best since 2017?) provided Eduardo Rodriguez comes back in top form quickly from a strain in his left side.

Plus, Lovullo should have closer Paul Sewald for most of the season.

So, yeah, call it a “fluke,” but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again.

Merrill Kelly got robbed last summer. Will he be an All-Star this year?

He’s got a great shot. Hate it or love it, All-Star selections can be emeritus awards. Kelly had a breakout performance in last year’s postseason. If he gets off to a good start, we could see him and about half the Arizona roster in the Midsummer Classic.

Really? Who else?

Ketel Marte is an MVP candidate whenever he’s healthy, and no one was more consistent and clutch and consistently clutch in last year’s playoffs than “Marty.”

Corbin Carroll, duh.

From there we’ll see.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Geraldo Perdomo made it last year, why shouldn’t we believe they can do it again?

These guys have proved they’re as good as anybody.

So, is it fair to put championship expectations on the DBacks?

No. It’s never fair. There’s only one team to win a title in any year in any sport. One. Everybody else goes home upset.

That said, these guys know what they signed up for playing big-league baseball, and the champs are the champs until somebody knocks them out.

I don’t care that the Phillies held on to Aaron Nola or that the Giants added Blake Snell or that the Dodgers got Shohei Ohtani (OK, maybe I care that the Dodgers got “Showtime” Ohtani) – the Diamondbacks are the National League champs until somebody eliminates them.

That means they’re a legit title contender.

Expectation may be the thief of joy, but this is baseball, the land of pop flies, not pop psychology.

Also, there’s joy in expectation. Ever have fun looking forward to something? … Like Opening Day!

We have a title contender in town, and we’re about to find out whether they can get back to the World Series -- and win it this time.

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How high are expectations for the DBacks on Opening Day?