Pete Donovan

Special to The Desert Sun

Change can be good; change for the better can be great.

The Dodgers’ 2017 season has been an impossible one to forecast from day one to today. They would win 104 games in the regular season, the most in the majors. But it was anything but a smooth, steady path to the playoffs.

When they broke from Spring Training in Arizona, the team looked set with a lineup that Manager Dave Roberts could look at fondly and feel secure moving forward.

But, oh my, did things change.

The first baseman was veteran Adrian Gonzalez, who had driven in 90 runs or more 10 consecutive seasons. Solid as a rock as the cleanup hitter.

Gonzalez’ balky back caused him to miss almost the entire season. Instead rookie Cody Bellinger was called up from the minors. He hit a rookie record 39 home runs and became the reliable cleanup hitter.

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All-Star Corey Seager was the shortstop. He had another fine season, but he, too, suffered a back injury, although late in the season, and is not even on the playoff roster.

Charlie Culberson spent almost the entire season in the minors with only 15 at-bats for the Dodgers all year, but is now, because of Seager’s injury, the starting shortstop in the National League Championship Series.

Andrew Toles (remember him?), after a promising late season surge in 2016, was the leadoff hitter and left fielder. He tore up his knee in May and was gone for the season.

Seldom-used Chris Taylor took over in left and hit 21 homers and led the team in doubles and stolen bases while solidifying the leadoff spot.

Joc Pederson was the center fielder. He slumped badly in the second half and was sent to the minors.

Taylor moved to center and Curtis Granderson was acquired from the Mets to play left field. When Granderson slumped, Enrique Hernandez, a super sub, was called on to play left in the playoffs – while batting cleanup (Bellinger was moved up a spot because of Seager’s injury).

No one knew what to expect from Yasiel Puig in right field. He was the ultimate baseball enigma, talented yet moody. There was even some speculation he would be traded before opening day.

Puig went on to hit 28 home runs and has been the Dodgers’ best offensive player in the postseason.

Yasmani Grandal, the power-hitting switch hitter, would be the everyday catcher.

By October, Grandal was struggling against left-handers and Austin Barnes started the first two games of the NLCS.

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The new setup man for Kenley Jansen would be Sergio Romo, signed as a free agent after a solid career with the Giants.

Romo could never get going in Los Angeles and was traded in mid-season. Brandon Morrow, released by three different teams in his career, became the very effective late-inning relief specialist.

Then there’s Alex Wood who began the season in the bullpen. Injuries to starters gave him a chance and he responded with an All-Star season, going 16-3. Yu Darvish was added during the summer trading season. Both Wood and Darvish will be starters in the playoffs.

So, there you have it. Gone are Scott Van Slyke and Frankin Gutierrez and Trace Thompson and Sergio Romo and Grant Dayton and Chris Hatcher and...

...the Dodgers are on the brink of making their first World Series appearance in 29 years! Improbable again!

Pete Donovan is a Palm Desert resident and former Los Angeles Times sports reporter. He can be reached at pwdonovan22@yahoo.com

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