Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández picked perfect time to take indirect shot at Red Sox

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are two of the most storied franchises in sports. They've both existed for 120 years (or longer). They've both been the home to some of the greatest players of all time.

But in recent years, the two organizations have been defined very differently. Yes, the Red Sox captured a World Series (over the Dodgers) in 2018 and LA was triumphant in 2020, but ever since 2018, these teams have taken paths on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Red Sox tore down a winning operation, trading Mookie Betts to the Dodgers and, outside of a 2021 ALCS run, have been an embarrassment among the league's big-market clubs. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, despite playoff shortcomings, have been baseball's gold standard in terms of winning, player development, and providing a premier destination for free agents and high-profile trade candidates.

During that same time period, the Red Sox did a number of their players dirty. They let Xander Bogaerts, Nathan Eovaldi, Eduardo Rodriguez, Kyle Schwarber and JD Martinez walk in free agency. They traded Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Renfroe and Christian Vázquez (midway through a Wild Card race, to boot). A number of young players, such as Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec, failed to develop. The front office refused to sign guaranteed producers and instead got fancy with their contract extensions in an attempt to save money in the long haul, giving premature deals to Matt Barnes and Garrett Whitlock and paying Trevor Story $140 million.

On top of that, just before the three-game set in Boston, former Red Sox players in Betts and Kiké Hernández drove home the point that the Dodgers have the best uniforms in the sport.

Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández picked perfect time (return to Boston) to praise Dodgers

... while directly mentioning they're more "classic" than the Red Sox threads! Just days before Betts' return to Fenway Park for the first time since being traded to LA! And shortly after Hernández was traded back to LA at this year's deadline!

Think they were trying to send a message? At least Betts? Who seemingly continues to hint that he was wronged by the Red Sox and the fanbase with how his contract situation played out and how he feels at home with the Dodgers in more ways than one?

"I didn’t know I could talk and be who I am. I know who I am, but I didn’t know that I could be who I am now. … The opportunities that I’ve gotten for life and off-the-field things, I don’t think happen in Boston. That’s not a shot at Boston or anything, it’s just two completely different markets. L.A. is a completely different place. I mean, it’s huge. The opportunities are endless."

Mookie Betts, The Athletic

Not a shot at Boston ... but sounds like some kind of something directed at Boston. Betts is essentially saying he couldn't be himself with the Red Sox?

And he's saying he looks better in a Dodgers uniform? What more to do we need to know about Boston not being the right setting for the seven-time All-Star?