Sunday Dodger Videos:

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

For those without SportsNet LA, watch their show "Backstage: Dodgers Episode 18" for a behind the scenes look at Clayton Kersahw's no-hitter.

Video Link:

Wait fir it.  Stadium Bound captures Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clint Robinson signing autographs for some kids.  Then, Clayton Kershaw shows up and tries to make a block.

Video Link:

ICYMI:  Dodgers bench gives Van Slyke a 'hot-foot'

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 7/5/2014 - Dodger Links - Another Amazing Kershaw Start, Uribe's Back and Another Dodger Streak

Clayton Kershaw was, as usual, unbelievable last night.  He stymied the Rockies over 8 innings, giving up just 2 hits and 0 runs.  His scoreless innings streak now stands at 36.  Graphic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Do you think Puig's home run convinced Tulowitzki to put him in the home run derby?

• Via Lee Singer at ESPN, "Kershaw at the top of his game."
• Via Brent W. New at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Mattingly believes Kershaw can get better."

“He still doesn’t use his changeup probably as much as he could,” Mattingly said. “That pitch is still there and developing. I still think there are times when the more he gets the ball to the opposite side of the plate, it’s lights out. If he gets the ball to the outside of the plate as much as he is able to get the ball in on righties and away to lefties, it will [be good].” 

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "Uribe finally looks like Papi again in Dodgers' win."

“It just lengthens us,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Uribe’s return. “There’s been games where you kind of get to the bottom (of the lineup), you get to 7-8-pitcher and you really don’t feel like you’re going to have much of a chance to score much of the time.

“But Papi kind of lengthens that and with Hanley (Ramirez back in the lineup Thursday) too it pushes it one more notch down. … It just lengthens us up and down, makes us more dangerous.”

• I didn't catch this, but Lee Sinins at The Daily Gammons did, "Stats report: Dodgers set a MLB record."

Yesterday (Thursday), the Dodgers set the major league record with their 37th consecutive game with their starting pitcher allowing 2 BB or less, breaking the record held by the 2005 Twins. (Elias) The Dodgers are on pace for the 6th best SO/BB in a season, but their 0.21 SO/BB above the league average won’t even crack the top 500. (Complete Baseball Encyclopedia) Despite their record streak, the Dodgers pitching staff is 1 BB below the league average. (Complete Baseball Encyclopedia)

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "On 7/4, why No. 74, Kenley Jansen, has been way better than you realize."

But even putting aside the unrealistic expectation many fans have for perfection from their relievers, people do seem to be missing the boat on Kenley Jansen 2014. This might be his worst season in terms of results, but in terms of performance, it actually might be his best. Whatever it is, don’t lose your appreciation for him.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Happy Birthday, America!

On this wonderful 4th of July day please have a safe and sane holiday.  Happy Independence Day!

This day would not be complete without the below two videos.  The first one is from the movie "The Sandlot" and it's followed by Lou Gehrig's retirement speech as recited by MLB 1st Baseman.

Video Link:

Today is the 75th anniversary of Gehrig's retirement speech.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 7/4/2014 - Dodger Links - JP Howell Thriving, Pederson an All-Star and Some Wild Swings from the Dodgers

Here's a view of Coors Field during the singing of the national anthem last night, pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  The Dodgers played themselves into first place last night with a thrilling win over the Rockies, 3 to 2.  Zack Greinke was phenomenal as he went 8 strong innings.  Juan Uribe drove in the winning run in the 9th inning

• ICYMI:  Erisbel Arruebarrena has been called up to the Dodgers and Carlos Triunfel has been sent back down to AAA.  The Dodger press release is here.
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider provides an update on the recent Dodger international signings.  So far, 6 new players are now a part of the Dodger family.
• Via Stuart Wallace at The Daily Gammons, "On a team constantly in the limelight, Howell thrives in relative anonymity."

J.P. Howell quietly and effectively toils away in the middle innings, providing a steady bridge to the later innings for the Dodgers, in a season that has been predicated upon a career bests in ground ball rate (57.6%), holds (18), and a near-career best in strikeout rate (28.2%).

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Joc Pederson named Triple-A All-Star."
• Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs writes, "The Worst of the Best: The Month’s Wildest Swings."  Three Dodger swings made the cut - WooHoo!
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Tulo to talk Home Run Derby with Puig."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers sign 38th-round pick LHP Caleb Ferguson."
• If you'll be anywhere near Ithica, New York on Saturday you should check this out, via a tweet from Kings captain Dustin Brown:

Bringing The Cup to Cass Park Rink Sat July 5th, 9:30-11:30am. Requesting $5 donation for pictures to benefit various Ithaca Charities
— dustin brown (@DustinBrown23) July 3, 2014

• I had totally missed this.  Fernando Valenzuela will be in Topps upcoming 2014 Triple Threads Baseball card set.  In fact, he will have a coveted Triple Threads Triple Hits card that features an autograph, jumbo relic and a hand print.  You heard me right... a hand print.  Check out the photo tweeted out by Topps below showing Fernando giving the cards a low-five.  BTW, the set is slated to be released in September.

Check out "El Toro", Fernando Valenzuela, stamping some Hand Stamp cards for Triple Threads! pic.twitter.com/jGe79zOJ79
— Topps Company (@toppscards) June 27, 2014

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Puig Goes on Kimmel Show to Get Your Vote - Vote Puig!

With the voting for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game coming to an end tonight (Thursday, July 3rd at 8:59 PM PT) Guillermo of the Jimmy Kimmel Show visited with Yasiel Puig at Dodger Stadium yesterday to lobby on his behalf. 

First, though, Puig had to go through a grueling Q&A session with Guillermo to earn his vote.  Watch it below:

Video Link:

So, what do we find out about Puig?

• He totally knows who plays first base for the Dodgers, but obviously has no clue why the question is funny.
• Puig doesn't wear a cup, and that's a big mistake!  He claims he is always prepared for anything, but can you really be totally safe if you don't take the appropriate precautions.  Just ask LaTroy Hawkins (Video Link), or this guy (Video Link), or this guy (Video Link), or this guy (Video Link) or this guy (Video Link).
• Puig is a deeply emotional fellow: "Sometimes the pitcher breaks my heart, too."
• Finally, Puig can't sing... Like, really... He's horrible... Like, Rosanne Barr trying to sing the National Anthem bad... Or, Troy from West Virginia bad.

Anyway, be sure to cast your final ballots tonight for Yasiel Puig.  At last report (via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider), Puig stands in 3rd place for National League outfielders.  So, he needs your help to maintain his status.  Go here to vote.

Pic at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2014 - Dodger Links - Kershaw is Player of the Month, Jury Deadlocked in Stow Trial and 1st Round Pick Holmes Shines

To no one's surprise, Clayton Kershaw has been named the National League Pitcher of the Month of June.  Congrats!  Graphic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Per a Dodgers press release:

Kershaw, who threw his first career no-hitter on June 18, was tops among qualifying Major League pitchers with a 0.82 ERA (4 ER/44.0 IP) last month while pacing the big leagues with six wins (6-0) and 61 strikeouts. The left-hander tied Philadelphia's Cole Hamels for the most innings pitched during the month and held opposing hitters to a .161 batting average, which was good for second in the N.L. behind Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta (.157). Kershaw went the distance in two of his six outings last month and did not allow a single run in his last three starts - a span of 24.0 scoreless innings. The 24.0-inning scoreless streak marked the longest such streak in Kershaw's career, besting a previous high of 22.0 scoreless innings from May 8-19, 2012.

• Holy Moly!  Via Kate Mather at the Miami Herald, "Deadlocked jury in Dodgers lawsuit told to keep trying for verdict."

A Los Angeles jury said Wednesday it was deadlocked over whether the Los Angeles Dodgers organization was responsible for the devastating injuries suffered by a San Francisco Giants fan beaten during the 2011 home opener at Dodgers Stadium.

But the judge in the case ordered the jury to return for further deliberations.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/02/4215654/deadlocked-jury-in-dodgers-lawsuit.html#storylink=cpy

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers sign Dominican outfielder Johan Calderon."
• Via Teddy Cahill at MLB.com, "Top pick Holmes shines in pro debut."

Right-hander Grant Holmes, the Dodgers' first-round pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, threw two scoreless innings in his professional debut Wednesday, helping the Rookie-level Dodgers defeat the Mariners, 5-2, in the Arizona League.

Holmes struck out five batters and walked one. Outfielder Alex Verdugo, the Dodgers' second-round pick, went 1-for-2 with a double, a run and three walks.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Behind every great man there stands a great chef – even for Vin Scully."  Ron writes a great story about Chef Dave Pearson.

“Besides being a wonderful cook his personality is remarkable,” said Vin Scully of Pearson during a recent interview. “When you realize that there are so many demands on his time and trying to serve so many people coming and going, and yet he never appears upset, never appears short-tempered or grouchy, always everything is fine. He’s always smiling and that’s the key. He is a great gift to us besides the food that he cooks, oh yeah.”

• This might be the most horrible thing ever.  Via a tweet from @MLB_PR, take a look at the caps the players will be wearing.

Players will wear special cap during #ASG for 1st time. Inspired by classic 1970s #Twins helmet design: pic.twitter.com/6WCT9ziW0o
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) July 2, 2014

• This might be the greatest thing ever!  In the new MLB 14 video game there's a moment where the umpire takes the bat from Yasiel Puig and shows him the proper way to bat flip.  I kid you not.  Watch it below.  (Hat Tip: Tom Ley at Deadspin)  How do you do this?

(You) unlock by holding onto the ball on the mound and leaving the game unpaused for more than 30 seconds. 

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *