Dodgers: Former players succeeding during postseason is hardly a worry for LA

We live in a world of hot takes and knee-jerk reactions. It’s annoying, but we must adapt and rise above. It’s the only way in these treacherous sports waters.

And when the hot takers try to come for the Los Angeles Dodgers? Nope! Not happening. This has been the best team in baseball for the better part of the last decade. They’ve made almost every correct personnel decision amid their nine-year reign.

So when former Dodgers players are dominating for other teams in the postseason while LA is having a bad game? No need to throw out snarky comparisons.

Do you really think this team would be better with Kiké Hernandez, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo … instead of Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and AJ Pollock?

Don’t worry about former Dodgers players performing well elsewhere.

Of course, all of those guys mashing came on the same day the Dodgers got blanked in Game 1 of the NLDS to fall behind the division-rival San Francisco Giants. But what happened the next night? The Dodgers cruised to a 9-2 victory behind tough at-bats and clutch hits. It was only a matter of time.

Hernandez, Pederson and Verdugo performing well with their new teams should be a positive testament to how they were developed with the Dodgers. Had those players not had stops in LA and been brought up in such a successful environment, we’re really not sure what their careers would look like at this juncture.

Also … the Dodgers offense has gone totally silent at times with and without the aforementioned players. This is baseball. Tough stretches happen at any given moment regardless of who is on the roster.

But we’d venture to say those tough stretches would be a lot less infrequent with Betts in right field, Turner playing second base (and elsewhere when needed), and Pollock in left field.

This is nothing against Hernandez, Pederson and Verdugo, but there’s a reason the team let the first two walk in free agency and traded the third. Kiké and Joc will always be Dodgers legends, but when you’re on a collision course to repeat as World Series champs, upgrades and re-tools are necessary.

Most fans would agree that this three-for-three swap was the right call no matter the outcome, and even if it weren’t to work out, you’d likely do it 10 times out of 10.

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