The Diamondbacks are ancient -- they began the season with 10 players 34 or older. The Diamondbacks are aching -- 11 different players have been on the disabled list in the season's first four months. But the Diamondbacks are winning, claiming 33 of their past 51 games. Give rookie manager Bob Brenly's old snakes time to pop their teeth in and they can bite you with power hitting, sizzling pitching or stingy defense. But can the D-Backs continue to overcome major injuries and the lack of an established veteran closer in the airtight National League West?
First-half MVP:
Arguments can be made for either of the dazzling starters Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. But chicks aren't the only ones who dig the long ball. Luis Gonzalez
continues to amaze by improving, it seems, with every game. The National League player of the month for April and June is the latest threat to unseat Mark McGwire as baseball's single-season home-run king -- watch your back, Barry Bonds. With his 35 homers, 86 RBI and .355 batting average in his first 87 games, the father of triplets has a great shot at the National League's Triple Crown. The big questions in regards to those batting quests -- can he continue to be resilient (he has not had a day off since 1999) and will teams continue to pitch to him come September?
Biggest surprise: How about rookie reliever Bret Prinz? When the D-Backs lost prized stopper Matt Mantei to a season-ending elbow injury in April, Prinz was promoted from Triple-A Tucson. The 24-year-old leads all major-league rookies with eight saves, has won his first three decisions and owns a stingy 1.12 ERA. The D-Backs reportedly are shopping for an experienced closer, but Prinz has been the answer thus far.
Biggest disappointment: Center fielder Steve Finley continues to struggle at the plate after a stunning 2000 season, when he hit 35 home runs, drove in 96 runs and hit .280. Finley's numbers this year project to 9 home runs, 61 RBI and a .233 batting average. He might still be playing his way into form from offseason back surgery.
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D-Backs first-half comparison
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2000
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2001
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W-L
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51-37
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51-36
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HR leader
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Finley, 25
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Gonzalez, 35
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BA leader
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Gonzalez, .310
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Gonzalez, .355
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ERA
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Johnson, 1.80
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Johnson, 2.71
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Second-half goals: The D-Backs do not like to spend greenbacks -- in the winter, 10 players agreed to chairman Jerry Colangelo's request to defer more money from their contracts. But they might have to rent a reliever to accent Prinz for the stretch. Getting a healthy third baseman Matt Williams (out since May 18 with hamstring and hip problems) back, would be a tremendous plus. Starter Brian Anderson (sidelined last month with a groin injury) returned from his second stint on the disabled list just before the break.
Minor-leaguer to watch: Outfielder Jack Cust, 22, might be a late-summer promotion for his bat if nothing else. The Tucson Sidewinder will play in the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 11 in Indianapolis. Cust leads the Sidewinders with 19 home runs and 55 RBI. The D-Backs' first pick of the 1997 draft, has been an All-Star at every level he has played at in the organization. He was the Class A California League Player of the Year in '99.
Grade:  The Diamondbacks have done a lot with crusty vets and a rookie manager. Can Brenly continue to win with his platoon and pinch-hit happy system? Will the D-Backs slump in the second half this season as they did last, when a 51-37 start was undermined by a 15-24 finish (over the last 39 games)? Can they sustain any more injuries and continue to win, or was the first half a desert mirage?
(Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best)
Here's what you had to say about the Diamondbacks' first half.
Sheldon Spencer is an associate editor at ESPN.com
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