Former Dodgers in the World Series

As I watching Game 4 of the World Series between the Cardinals and Rangers, I can't help but notice the number of key players on each team who used to be Dodgers.

Cardinals
Octavio Dotel (does he really count?)
Rafael Furcal
Edwin Jackson
Ryan Theriot (same as Dotel)

Rangers
Adrian Beltre

OK, so Dotel and Theriot were barely Dodgers and aren't doing much in the Series. However, Furcal, Jackson and Beltre are all key components for each team.

Furcal is the Cardinals' leadoff man and, much like he was with the Dodgers -- or was supposed to be -- he's the catalyst of the squad. But with a 3-4-5 of Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman, Furcal doesn't have to be on base all the time for the Cardinals to be successful.

Jackson is the key guy the Cardinals acquired in the Colby Rasmus trade. He was solid after the trade, despite a 10.5 H/9 rate. It's probably my Dodger bias, but I'd like to see him back in L.A., as he's a free agent after the season (only if Hiroki Kuroda decides to retire or go back to Japan). Jackson's postseason hasn't been stellar and he doesn't get the most out of his stuff, but he's still a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Beltre is quite possibly the best third baseman in the game -- defensively. Like he was with the Dodgers, he's a vacuum at the hot corner and has one of the best arms in the game at the position. He also followed up last season's impressive offensive output -- .321/.365/.553, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 49 2B, 5.5 bWAR, 7.0 fWAR -- with another impressive season: .296/.331/.561, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 3.9 bWAR, 5.7 fWAR. He's hitting .467 in the World Series.

I honestly don't care which team wins this series. Beltre was always one of my favorite Dodgers and Jackson was traded when his value was virtually nothing. Furcal had a nice career with the Dodgers, despite the injuries. It'd just be nice to write a World Series post involving current Dodgers. Unfortunately, that is more of a pipe dream at this juncture.

Worst nightmare to come to life?

My worst nightmare might come to life in a matter of hours. Hell, every true Dodgers' fan worst nightmare is about to come to life.

Never did I think the San Francisco Giants would win the World Series. Even in 2002, it just didn't seem possible. But here they sit -- 27 outs away from being crowned champions.

...Excuse me, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

How does a team with absolutely no offense score 11 -- including seven off Cliff Lee -- in Game 1 and proceed to dominate two of the next three games? It just doesn't seem right.

Then again, the Rangers aren't exactly a model of dominant baseball. Their hitters have been neutralized all series by elite Giant pitching.

So here I sit, just a few hours from a potential Giant World Series championship, and I couldn't be more upset off about it.

And if it happens, this lovely graphic will be no more:


For shame.