SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nearly every team in baseball seems optimistic this time of year, but the D-backs have to be feeling particularly good about their situation.
Coming off a Wild Card berth in 2017, fan enthusiasm seems high -- which is reflected in increased season-ticket sales -- and the team appears primed for another run at the postseason.
Team president and CEO Derrick Hall addressed the media prior to Monday's first full-squad workout. Here are four takeaways:
Ownership is committed to winning
The D-backs right now have a little more than $125 million committed in payroll for this year, which easily tops the club record of $112 million for an Opening Day payroll.