Don’t look yet but Joe Torre is having a second coming in Los Angeles. With just over 120 games played so far in the 2008 baseball season, the Los Angeles Dodgers (along with the Arizona Diamondbacks) boast the best record in the national league west with 64 wins and 60 losses.

It’s not something Joe Torre or the Los Angeles Dodgers will want to make a great deal of noise about just yet. Bear in mind, the season is still far from over, so there is no comeback until the trophy is lifted in September.

Either way, as far as I am concerned, it’s a remarkable story on two fronts. On one hand we had a Dodgers team that had finished last season (2007) with a so-so record of 82 wins and 80 losses for the 4^th place in the Division further compounded by the end-of-season axing of manager, Grady Little, who had had his own problems with the Dodgers organization throughout the year.

On the other hand, the Yankees, a team with an all or nothing General Manager and “juiced” and overpaid stars who, despite their past successes, were beginning to look like perennial underachievers. Joe Torre all season had the look of a walking caricature disfigured by all the trouble in the world.

Despite all the pressure, the Yankees finished the regular season second behind the Boston Red Sox with a decent enough record of 94 and 68 but was blown out by the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in the first round of the play-offs.

The bitter disappointment was followed by much speculation about Joe Torre’s future. Amazingly, even with the early exit in the play-offs, the manager who had led the Yankees to 4 world championships was offered a one-year contract that would have kept him as the highest-paid manager in all of baseball. Apparently though, Joe had had enough. He opted out of the offer and seemed to have disappeared into the sunset.

In the off-season, Joe Torre apparently had a change of heart. The Dodgers came calling and in November 2007, he signed a contract through to 2010. It hasn’t been sterling but no one can question the improved attitude of Tommy Lasorda’s’ team. You may argue that the 64/60 record is only marginally better than last year’s; but the big difference this time around…they are tied for first place!

If the Dodgers are to complete Joe Torre’s comeback, major hurdles remain. They must improve their losing road record and overcome teams like the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay and the L.A. Angels who are all fighting for the best record in baseball. It won’t be easy but with the recent addition of Manny Ramirez,  they no doubt will feel they have as good a chance as any with the tried and proven former New York Yankee manager at the helm.