A team doesn't go 17-1 since July 28 without playing good baseball, but are the Dodgers really that good? Maybe not. Their surge includes three wins over Washington, three more over the crash-and-burn Giants, five over the Marlins and three over wild-card-leading Cincinnati while in the midst of a 4-9 tailspin. Carrying the offensive load during the Dodgers' surge are J.D. Drew, Rafael Furcal, Kenny Lofton, rookies Andre Ethier and Russell Martin, and new arrival Wilson Betemit -- giving the team a balanced attack. Another recent addition, Greg Maddux, has been terrific in three Dodger starts, and nearly the entire Los Angeles staff has followed suit. The Dodgers have a major league-best 2.26 ERA and .211 opponent batting average since their 17-1 run began on July 28. The National League West is a weak bunch, and the Dodgers enjoy a 3.5 game lead over Arizona and San Diego going into Wednesday's games. They are playing two rookies who are handling the pennant race well, Ethier and Martin, and the new arrivals are making immediate contributions. Perhaps the Dodgers will emerge as the best team in the NL West down the stretch, but they'll have to prove it in their final 25 games against divisional foes.