After an impressive 12-2 start that raised a mountain of collective eyebrows, that other team identified with Los Angeles (the one in the National league) has ker-plunked woefully back to reality. That misguided and fleeting euphoria is wearing off. Following the latest loss to the Atlanta Braves, which dropped them to third place in the West, the Dodgers are just 9-14 since bolting from the opening gate. At this rate, they?ll be able to smell the hot breath of the Colorado Rockies before it?s all said and done. Not pleasant. Faltering after promising starts is nothing new for the blue the past several years. Just when it looks like they have found the road back to their glory years, the air somehow manages to leave the balloon. Last season, they were able to stave off a final surge by the Giants, only to get smacked silly by the Cardinals in 4 games of the opening round. This reflected the way the Dodgers finished the season. Odalis Perez and Jeff Weaver faded in September, and October wasn?t any better. Perez had only one win after Aug. 13, while Weaver won just once after Aug. 26. Will it be different this year? Probably not. Arizona and San Diego appear to have enough horses to make things interesting, and when Barry Bonds returns, the Giants will be there as well. Things could really heat up for the stretch drive. Put on your lotion. Eric Gagne?s return should help bolster the pen, although he was rocked for two dingers in his first game back. Is he really healthy? Who knows, and his presence is only important if he comes in with a lead. Oh, that. Jeff Kent has moved his show to southern California, dropping his sizeable anchor in the heart of the Dodger order. His current numbers of .295 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs prove once again what a valuable commodity he is. Why do teams keep letting him leave? At a press conference following his signing, Kent choked back tears while his parents did likewise. ?I grew up with my dad taking me to Dodger games. I?m very happy to be a part of the organization,? he blubbered tenderly. Touching. Of course, he made similar ramblings after hooking up with the Astros. Great to be near his ranch, and blah blah. But the man can produce, and has never been afraid of pressure. Just don?t let him wash your motorcycle? er, truck. Milton Bradley has hit well also, but you have to wonder if he is but one measly Kent wisecrack from an old-fashioned dugout brew-ha-ha. Terrific for the highlight reel, but murder on team unity. And not funny. His anger-management program may be working ? for now. But it?s an exceptionally long and grueling season, especially when wins become scarce. Powder kegs can?t stand losing. They really can?t. General Manager Paul Depodesta has felt the critical sting of varied questionable moves ? some of which may still work. He allowed Shawn Green, Steve Finley, and Adrian Beltre to get away, but replaced them with Kent, Derek Lowe, and J.D. Drew. He has suffered no nightmares over the loss of Beltre. At least not yet. Without a clear dominant team in the division, there?s always reason for optimism. But best not to make any World Series plans. Just because.