If nothing else, the Arizona Diamondbacks offer hope to the Pirates and their fans that, not only can the unlikely be done, but it can happen rather quickly.

Already the West Division leaders own 24 more victories than a year ago, when only the Pirates had more losses in among National League teams. And they've done it with a $53.6-million payroll, which is only $11 million more than what the Pirates took into the season.

The turnaround is the work of not one, not two but three general managers who combined to make several shrewd moves in the last 22 months.

In December, 2009, before general manager Josh Byrnes was dismissed with the team in last place, the Diamondbacks landed pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy as part of a three-team deal. The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees haven't come away empty-handed in the blockbuster, but the Diamondbacks may be the biggest winners of all eventually. At 26, Kennedy has developed into a 20-game winner as the staff anchor in less than two seasons.

After Jerry DiPoto assumed the reins on an interim basis, former high draft picks David Holmberg and Daniel Hudson were acquired from the White Sox organization. Jackson went to Chicago in return. Since then, the 24-year-old Hudson has emerged as a legitimate No. 2 starter and will take 16 victories into the game versus the Pirates this evening.

Enter widely respected Kevin Towers, the former Pirates scout who came aboard last September.

In the off-season, Towers rebuilt what had been the worst bullpen in the league and he didn't break the bank to do it. Closer J.J. Putz was the the only pricey addition, and at $11 million for two years, the veteran could turn out to be a steal if he isn't one already.

The best moves might have been the ones that Towers didn't make, though. Rather than search for a more experienced bench leader, he retained interim manager Kirk Gibson in a full-time capacity then assembled an All-Star staff around him. Gibson manages much liked he played – with a large chip on his shoulder and lots of fire in his belly -- and the predominately young team has taken to him in no small way.

Towers also resisted any temptation to trade Justin Upton on the heels of a subpar season, the first under a six-year, $51.25-million contract extension. The 24-year-old outfielder has responded with Most Valuable Player-type numbers – .294 batting average, 31 home runs, 102 runs scored, 21 stolen bases. He could turn out to be a franchise player, after all.

It takes a lot of luck and even more vision and know-how to pull it off, but the Diamondbacks have proved that mid-market teams are capable of quick turnarounds even if the system is stacked against them.

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The Pirates batting order: Alex Presley, left field; Neil Walker, second base; Andrew McCutchen, center field; Derrek Lee, first base; Ryan Doumit, catcher; Garrett Jones, right field; Pedro Alvarez, third base; Ronny Cedeno, shortstop; Charlie Morton, pitcher.

The Diamondbacks batting order: Willie Bloomquist, shortstop; Aaron Hill, second base; Justin Upton, right field; Miguel Montero, catcher; Paul Goldschmidt, first base; Chris Young, center field; Ryan Roberts, third base; Gerardo Parra, left field; Hudson, pitcher.