PHOENIX -- At the start of the week, the Diamondbacks were a healthy team with just three losses and one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. Chief rival San Francisco was facing the loss of their closer, Brian Wilson, for the season.
Life was good.
They've seen in a few short days just how quickly things can change.
Now with center fielder Chris Young and backup infielder Geoff Blum on the disabled list and right fielder Justin Upton nursing a bruised left thumb, the D-backs have fast become a banged-up team coping with the sudden adversity.
"We're confident in the people we have," manager Kirk Gibson said. "You can't get discouraged. That's part of it, that's part of the deal, part of the ride. I have to be optimistic."
Upton was out of the lineup for the third straight game as the D-backs opened the series Thursday with the Atlanta Braves.
Gibson said the team doesn't want to put Upton on the disabled list but will continue evaluating his status daily. Despite not starting, Upton was available to pinch run and play defense.
Gibson said Upton reported feeling better Thursday morning, but the DL has not yet been ruled out. Gibson also said Upton spoke with Mets third baseman David Wright, who is dealing with a pinky injury, after seeing him on TV squeezing putty in the dugout to keep the finger loose between innings.
"He's looking to try to get back as soon as he can," Gibson said. "We're going to have to be patient with him."
Blum, meanwhile, offered a little clarity on his injured left oblique. Tests showed the muscle is partially torn, but how long Blum will be sidelined remains unclear.
"They said it was a pretty good tear or strain, whatever you call it," Blum said. "We're just going to play it day by day. Obviously, 15 days, but I've heard anywhere from four to eight weeks. It depends on how I react to the treatment."
Blum called the injury "extremely" frustrating but took a big picture approach considering his is one of three injuries with which the club is dealing with less than two weeks into the season.
"It's frustrating for me personally, but I'm sure in Gibby's office he's probably had some pretty interesting meetings over the last couple days trying to figure out how to patch together a ball club," Blum said.
Gibson isn't as concerned with filling out the lineup card as he is keeping the team focused. How the team reacts now could impact where they stand come midseason or later.
"We'll take it day by day I guess," Gibson said. "As it stands right now, we're going to have to tough it out."
