Lifelong Diamondbacks fan Robin Hollowell was in Arlington, Texas, for Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, the last time Arizona won a postseason game.
“I remember after winning the National League Championship, I found out who we were playing in the World Series and was ecstatic,” Hollowell said. “The game I ended up going to was the one we ended up winning. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.”
Two years have passed and he, along with much of the fan base, has watched the Diamondbacks fall below playoff expectations two years in a row.
Hollowell, who supported the team since its inception in 1998, was one of 24 respondents to a survey conducted by Cronkite News that polled fans on their expectations for the Diamondbacks 2026 season.
Respondents were asked to rate their confidence level in the team for the upcoming season on a scale from one to five, with one being not confident, and five being extremely confident.
The general sentiment from respondents is that they want a return to what has worked in the past: creating chaos.
Micheal Sebastian, another long-time Diamondbacks fan from Mesa, is looking for the team to return to what made 2023 so special.
“I think this team has the makings of a winner,” Sebastian said. “Bullpen aside though. We have to go back to our identity of creating chaos. I think we strayed away from it too much but that worked for us. I have a strong belief in (manager Torey) Lovullo, our core and have a less strong belief in the surrounding cast.”
John Haake, who grew up a Cubs fan in Chicago but became a Diamondbacks supporter later in life, also hopes the team leans into its chaotic, small-ball approach to the game.
“Chaos runs in their blood at this point,” Haake said. “I love the small-ball approach and look forward to cheering on this team from any state I find myself in.”
Greg Hilliard, a former copy editor for the Arizona Republic, highlighted the strength of the top players on the team: Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo.
“They have three of MLB’s top 25 position players in Carroll, Marte and Perdomo, and they just added Nolan Arenado at third to give them a potent infield,” Hilliard said. “The outfield and bullpen still need work, and the starting rotation seems serviceable enough. I expect they’ll contend for a playoff berth.”
Of all the questions, one produced the most impassioned responses from respondents. “What is your confidence level in Torey Lovullo?” they were asked, rating the manager on a scale from one to five, with one meaning not very confident and five meaning extremely confident.
Many sympathized with Lovullo due to the long list of injuries the Diamondbacks faced during the 2025 season, notably to top relievers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, and top free-agent signing Corbin Burnes, a former Cy Young Award winner.
They also noted the notoriously difficult NL West in which Arizona competes, home to the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, along with the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres, both consistent postseason threats.
Hilliard echoed this sentiment, adding the extended absence of catcher Gabriel Moreno to the laundry list of injuries suffered in 2025.
“I think (Lovullo) takes too much blame,” Hilliard said. “Last year, he lost his ace and top two relievers early, then his catcher for two months. In a division with the Dodgers, that’s too much to overcome.”
Sebastian was another respondent who voiced his support for Lovullo, citing the team’s past success.
“I saw that man take us to a World Series with a young, scrappy team,” Sebastian said. “I know that he has done a lot with less but that can only be the truth so much. He is so smart and it’s my belief that while he will make mistakes here and there, he is not the main issue.”
Other respondents, like Hollowell, noted Lovullo’s decision-making when it comes to managing the bullpen.
“The guy has some of the most questionable pitching choices I’ve ever seen out of a manager. And I have watched this team since its inception,” Hollowell said.
Lovullo is the club’s all-time wins leader and the longest-tenured manager in franchise history, entering his ninth season with a record of 664-692. The Diamondbacks have appeared in the postseason twice under Lovullo, with the most recent berth culminating in the aforementioned 2023 World Series appearance.
Superstar outfielder Carroll is the clear fan favorite of the team, scoring 13 of the 24 total votes for returning Diamondbacks.
Other players receiving votes include Perdomo and Marte, who has been with the Diamondbacks since 2017.
The breakouts of those three players and the subsequent pay raises that followed them have been positive signs to the fan base that Arizona owner Ken Kendrick is willing to invest in the team.
“I really do appreciate Ken Kendrick opening his wallet more over the last five years,” Hollowell said. “It means a lot, especially when you’re in the division with the infinite money glitch.”
However, aside from those three, respondents raised questions about the impact of Arenado, and the current holes in the outfield.
“The surrounding cast brings some doubts,” Sebastian said. “Nolan Arenado has had some down years. Does he turn back the clock? What about first base? Our outfield besides Corbin is injured and Alek Thomas is a huge question mark.”
The recent signing of free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana answers the question at first base, but the outfield still remains a topic of concern, as outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in September.
Notably, Diamondback pitchers accounted for only four votes, which reflects the growing concern for both the starting and bullpen pitching units.
Puk, Burnes and Martinez all continue to rehab from their Tommy John elbow surgeries, while former ace Zac Gallen remains a free agent.
Pitchers Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, the returning Marrill Kelly, and free-agent addition Michael Soroka will look to lift the weakened pitching staff in the 2026 season.
“I think the core is good,” Hollowell said. “I just feel like there’s a lot of injuries in the arm area. If we have a little bit more consistency out of arms like Pfaadt and maybe if we resign Zac Gallen, I’ll be happier. But we really need Martinez, Ginkel and Burnes back as quickly as possible.”
Respondents were also asked for their thoughts about the upcoming renovations to aging Chase Field, which opened in 1998. On a scale from one to five, one means very negative and five means very positive.
Ten out of the 24 respondents said they were excited about the upcoming renovations, which will target the air conditioning, retractable roof and other much-needed repairs.
Haake voiced his excitement for the renovation, with Chase Field finally getting the attention it has needed.
“Modern amenities in an older ballpark have always been something I’m fond of,” Haake said. “Going to Wrigley growing up has provided me the chance to appreciate these older ballparks.”
Hollowell is excited that the out-of-town scoreboard is slated to return and hopes that the old clock that sat on top of the scoreboard does the same.
“They have to bring back that clock in centerfield. That was part of the charm of the old Bank One Ballpark,” Hollowell said.
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