With the caveat that it's still April and the season is barely underway, I have to wonder what is going on with this Dodger team and where they are headed. Let's look at the record.

After tonight's come from behind extra inning game (the second in three games, I might add), the Dodgers are 12-2 having won 8 straight. That's still the best record in the MLB. That's not the whole story. I know no one cares, but that doesn't bother me at all.

The Dodgers have won every one of their series so far. They took 2 of 3 from the Giants, 2 of 3 from the Diamondbacks (both on the road) and have won every game since, including sweeps of the Padres, the Giants, and the Brewers, and now have won the first two games of the three game set in San Diego.

They are 4.5 games up on the Diamondbacks who won't be anywhere close to the top of the division when the season ends. They 5.5 up on San Diego and 6 big games ahead of the preseason favorite Giants, who were shutout by the Diamondbacks. The National League West, which looked so tight before the season is turning into a laugher.

J.D. Drew is coming around. Jose Valentin has stayed hot, driving in the winning runs with a 10th inning triple. The pitching is solid. Derek Lowe came away with a no decision tonight, but he only gave up one run on five hits to lower his ERA to 1.27. The staff is solid and is only going to get better in the next few weeks when Gagne returns to action.

In 1955 the Brooklyn Dodgers also started the season 12-2. That team won 22 of it first 24 games, won the pennant by 13 1/2 games and went on to finally break through in the series against the hated Yankees. Again, it's early, but these 2005 Dodgers are starting to show some of the same magic.