Perhaps it always will be difficult for Chattanooga-area residents to root for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a World Series, given that the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers were not the friendliest of roommates in the National League West Division from 1969 to 1993.
Houston, of course, was also in the NL West during that time, but when was the last time you heard a Braves fan lamenting over the Astros of yesteryear?
Yet there is no contest in this World Series, which starts tonight, when it comes to Chattanooga connections. Rick Honeycutt is a Lakeview High School and University of Tennessee graduate who is in his 12th season as Dodgers pitching coach, having worked under managers Grady Little, Joe Torre, Don Mattingly and now Dave Roberts.
This season's Dodgers also are overrun with former Chattanooga Lookouts, with seven former AT&T Field standouts having helped Los Angeles reach the Fall Classic for the first time since 1988. The Lookouts were Class AA affiliates of the Dodgers from 2009 to 2014, and Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was a seventh-round pick of Cincinnati in 2006 and played for the Lookouts in 2008 during their 21st and final season as Reds affiliates.
JUSTIN TURNER
Then: Turner had a lot less facial hair in 2008 but was plenty productive, as the Lookouts second baseman hit .289 with 42 RBIs in 78 games. Now: Playing third for the Dodgers, Turner hit .322 in 130 games this season and has hit .387 so far this postseason.
YASIEL PUIG
Then: Puig hit .313 with 37 RBIs in 40 games for the 2013 Lookouts. He was arrested that spring for driving 97 mph down Amnicola Highway but had the case dismissed later that year. Now: Puig has hit .263 each of the past two seasons but is hitting .414 in these playoffs.
KENLEY JANSEN
Then: Jansen was a star for the 2010 Lookouts, going 4-0 with a 1.67 earned run average in 25 appearances. Now: In 474 career big-league games, Jansen has 230 saves and a 2.08 ERA. He is in the first year of a five-year contract totaling $80 million.
COREY SEAGER
Then: Seager showed up in Chattanooga late in the 2014 season, hitting .345 with 27 RBIs in 38 games. Now: In 329 games in three seasons with Los Angeles, Seager has a .305 average and is a two-time All-Star shortstop. He did not play in the NLCS due to a back injury.
JOC PEDERSON
Then: Pederson hit .278 with 58 RBIs in 123 games with the 2013 Lookouts. Now: In 408 big-league games, Pederson has experienced his ups and downs in posting a .222 career average. The outfielder was added to the Dodgers' roster for the NLCS when Seager couldn't play.
ROSS STRIPLING
Then: In 21 appearances with the 2013 Lookouts, including 16 starts, Stripling went 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA. Now: Stripling went 3-5 during the regular season with a 3.75 ERA in 49 appearances. He tallied 74 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched.
PEDRO BAEZ
Then: Baez arrived as a third baseman but became a pitcher for the Lookouts, going 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA in 16 games in 2013 and 2-1 with a 2.79 in 17 games in 2014. Now: Baez went 3-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 66 games this season but was not on the roster for the NLCS.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.