It has been a long, dry spell for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On a couple of levels.

The more historical is their inability to win a World Series over the past quarter-century. You have to be at least 30 years old to have even a dim memory of 1988 and Orel Hershiser and “look who’s coming up!”

The more emotional was the hijacking of the franchise, in the early part of this century, by the loathsome duo of Frank and Jamie McCourt, and their subsequent pillaging of the franchise. Eventually, it became impossible to separate the McCourts from the boys in blue. For me, certainly.

So, here we are, in 2013, in the second season of Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC ownership, and if the Dodgers aren’t quite lovable again, they at least deserve consideration as a sports franchise worthy of our attention.

Perhaps you have noticed: Including today’s loss at home to Cincinnati, the Dodgers have won 26 of 38 games since June 10, when they bottomed out at nine games under .500 and 8.5 games back of first-place Arizona.

The Dodgers now lead the National League West.

Hard to imagine, when reflecting on the Dodgers of five weeks ago.

They were in the running to end 2013 as the most expensive awful team in baseball history. An opening day payroll of $220 million for a roster with no useful players on the left side of the infield, a shoddy bullpen and a five-man rotation that went about two men deep.

And, too, on June 10 they were playing .429 baseball.

If fans were not despondent it was only because of a perception that the new ownership, embodied by Magic Johnson, understood how important the Dodgers are to Los Angeles … and that even if they were spending money recklessly/stupidly, their hearts were in the right place.

And then things turned. The change in fortunes began, actually, a week before, when Yasiel Puig made his Major League debut, and his arrival was like an injection of adrenaline into the heart of a moribund, spiritless team.

Certainly, the young Cuban was exciting, and Dodger Stadium very much needed someone who appeared to be playing with joy and enthusiasm.

The reality is that Puig’s contribution to the club during that 26-12 surge evolved more into a symbolic than practical one. Almost half of his RBI as a big-leaguer were generated in his first, crazy week.

What turned around this club was the reemergence of Zack Greinke, the $21 million pitching acquisition, the ongoing hitting surge by the $15.5 million shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Best Player in Ball just a few years back; the steady production of the $21.9 million first baseman first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and the introduction of the $512,000 reliever Kenley Jansen as the club’s closer.

As well as various and sundry timely contributions from the journeymen who actually staff most of the Dodgers’ positions, from Skippy Schumacher to A.J. Ellis to Mark Ellis and (gulp) Nick Punto and (so help me God) Juan Uribe … and the reigning best pitcher in ball, Clayton Kershaw.

Timely hits, clutch pitching performances, rousing rallies, the Dodgers have had all of that during their surge — which has left most discerning Dodgers fans shaking their heads almost in disbelief.

This is a team that could make the playoffs and, with a bit of luck, reach the World Series for the first time since Kirk Gibson was limping to home plate.

This club has my attention again.