As you probably recall, the Dodgers' worst stretch of 2004 came in May, when the team lost eight games in a row and 12 out of 14 from May 13-28. In two weeks, their record went from 22-10 to 24-22. Six of the losses came against legitimate contenders; six came against also-rans-to-be Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Arizona.

The losing began the very day after what perhaps was the most magical at-bat of the season - Alex Cora's 18-pitch home run on May 12. Although the pitching staff got knocked around a bit, the problem for Los Angeles was more on offense. In 10 of the 12 losses, the Dodgers were held to three runs or less and were shut out three times. Adrian Beltre, who had led the Dodgers to their hot start with a 1.054 OPS and 10 home runs through the first 32 games, went 9 for 55 with one home run during the team's tailspin. Obviously ailing with ankle bone spurs, Beltre - and in turn, the Dodgers - seemed in need of something just short of a mercy killing.

The Dodgers subsequently recovered. They beat up on some sub-.500 teams to stop the severe losing and borrow time, then went on a hot streak in July in which they beat all comers.

The question for the Dodgers now is not whether they ever could turn their season around, because given the right amount of time, we know they can. The question is how quickly. Will the turnaround come right away, or is the season, in what could be interpreted as a stroke of bad luck, ending at just precisely the wrong time for Los Angeles?

Through 171 days of this baseball season, the Dodgers have been in first place all but 23.