The joke is on Dodgers' owners Frank and Jamie McCourt

It went out this week, coinciding with the Dogs' trip to Philadelphia and Washington, which makes Sonny & Cher's routine even funnier.

"We bring you heart-felt greetings as these last days of August usher in baseball's most exciting time of year," the letter begins, and nothing is more exciting than a seven-game losing streak.

"As we watch our modern 'Boys of Summer' evolve, emerge and energize our city," the McCourts wax poetic, "we see a brand of civic enthusiasm families can only enjoy at the ballpark."

You know what's coming next -- an attempt to capitalize on that civic enthusiasm families can only enjoy at the ballpark if they buy their tickets, but not before Sonny & Cher do some tap dancing.

"The additions of Casey Blake, Manny Ramirez and now Greg Maddux," while no mention, of course, that they come here free of charge, "bring substantial October experience to a team whose blossoming youth are developing before our eyes."

Since Blake's arrival, the Dodgers are 15-17, 11-15 since Ramirez put on a Dodgers uniform, and 1-9 since acquiring Maddux, who we were told makes such a difference in the clubhouse.

But now for a really good belly laugh to begin the day.

"We are grateful that Ned Colletti and his baseball operations staff," the letter reads, "have been able to make such substantial improvements . . . "

No telling how badly the Nationals might have pummeled the Dogs had substantial improvements not been made.

"These kids," the letter goes on to say, "together with Russell Martin (equally young), Nomar Garciaparra, future Hall of Famer Jeff Kent (young at heart), and speedster Juan Pierre have helped keep us in the thick of the race . . . "

Amazingly, no mention of Arizona, which has done the best job of keeping the Dogs in the thick of the race.

The letter continues with a mention of just about everyone's name on the team because Andruw Jones is in Las Vegas.

"Such a 'fall ball' veteran as Mark Sweeney," and I wonder if that was a typo and it was supposed to read, "such a 'foul ball' veteran as Mark Sweeney, "is a wonderful influence on a supporting cast anticipating an extended season for the first time."