Flaherty has pitched 55 good innings for LAD, he was a little better in Det, but regardless, Hinch covered those 55 innings just fine. (with added bonus of getting 3 young arms some ML experience).
assuming Javy would have season-ending surgery in either scenario, having Sweeney as SS is a HUGE part of the surge; I don't think it would have happened with Kreidler and McKinstry at SS