What A Team! Dodgers Come from Behind to Win Again!

Wow!  Just, wow!  There were some fireworks tonight, eh. 

The Dodgers have now won 10 straight road games for the first time In Los Angeles Dodgers history.  In fact, the last time they won 10 straight road game was in 1954, when they were still in Brooklyn.  In case you're keeping track, the franchise record is 12 straight road wins set in 1924. 

And what a great way to establish a new Los Angeles road winning streak record.  They come from behind for the second straight game by taking advantage of a Blue Jay defensive misplay to tie it in the 9th inning.

Then, Dodger power took over in the 10th.  Mark Ellis homered with Uribe on base to take the lead.  A batter later, Yasiel Puig came up and homered for the first time since July 2nd.  To put the game out of reach, Andre Ethier doubled for the 22nd time this season to knock in a couple more runs.

Better yet, seeing a more confident Brandon League on the mound was good to see.  He has now pitched in two consecutive games during pressure situations, and has come away with two straight victories.

Maybe the most symbolic part of tonight was watching an elated Puig in the dugout after hitting his home run.  Watch the video here.  At about the 0:36 second mark you can hear Yasiel scream the immortal phrase "what a team!".  As you'll recall, those are the exact words that rallied the Dodgers during their last World Series Championship in 1988.

Let's hope it's a sign of things to come.

The pic above is via the @Dodgers twitter.

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Oy Vey! Matt Kemp Heads Back to DL; Lilly Returns in His Place

What trying times are these?

Matt Kemp has to be going through a whirlwind of emotions.  He's had one of the toughest seasons a young burgeoning star could have.  From frequent stints on the Disabled List to the realization that a major award was stolen from him, you've got to really feel for him.

As the saying goes, "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger," so hopefully this past many months becomes a springboard to better times.

Announced just a moment ago by the Dodgers is the news that Matt Kemp will be headed to the Disabled List for the 3rd time this season.  Via a @Dodgers tweet:

#Dodgers today placed Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain and activated Ted Lilly.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 24, 2013

In Kemp's place will be pitcher Ted Lilly.  As originally reported several weeks ago by Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, Lilly is likely back with the Dodgers in a relief role.

"We'll give it a shot," said Mattingly. "Rick [Honeycutt, pitching coach] will set up a sim game tomorrow and every other day, and we'll see what it looks like. Ted said the best chance for him would be out of the bullpen. I want to be open-minded and see what it looks like."

It doesn't appear that he's done any in-game pitching on his recent DL stint since the above quote, so hopefully he's ready to go.


Below is the full Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly from the 15-day disabled list and placed outfielder Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 22) with a left ankle sprain.

Lilly last pitched in a Major League game on June 4 and has been on the disabled list, his third DL stint of the season, with a neck strain since June 5. The 37-year-old made two rehab starts with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 30 and July 6, combining to go 1-1 with a 10.80 ERA (10 ER/8.1 IP) in those outings. Overall, Lilly has gone 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in five starts with the Dodgers this season.

Kemp will be making his third trip to the disabled list this season and played in one game (Sunday at Washington) since his previous DL stint from July 6-20 for left A-C joint inflammation. The 28-year-old has appeared in 62 games for the Dodgers this season, batting .263 with five homers and 27 RBI.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Rudy Law and Korea Day at Dodger Stadium

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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This coming Sunday, July 28th at 5:00 PM former Dodger Rudy Law will be at Manuel's El Tepeyac restaurant in the City of Industry.  Roberto at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy has more information.

Manuel's El Tepeyac
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626) 488-9432

Hat Tip: Roberto at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy

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The Dodger game on Sunday happens to be Korea Day 2013.  The firs 15,000 fans 14-years old or younger get the above Kids’ Sunglasses.  Pregame celebrations include performances by members of Girls’ Generation and the National Korean Taekwondo Team.  “American Idol” 2012 finalist Heejun will sing “God Bless America.”  The game is against the Reds and starts at 1:10 PM; pregame ceremonies begin at 12:30 PM.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/24/2013 - Dodgers Links - A Vin Scully Bobblehead Game Contest, Schumaker's Stern Words and a Preview of Puig's Allen & Ginter card

Chris Olds at Beckett shares some preview pics of this season 2013 Allen & Ginter cards; including the above Yasiel Puig card above.  Just a reminder, there will also be a Puig autographed card inserted into packs.

• Check out my post from yesterday featuring items from former Dodger short stop Bill Russell's collection that are on auction at SCP.
• Vin Scully Bobblehead day is officially sold out!

Vin Scully Bobblehead Night presented by Bank of America (Thursday, July 25th) is officially sold out.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2013

• If you've been shut out, how about trying this contest out.

Here is your chance to not only be at Dodger Stadium for Vin Scully Bobblehead Night but also meet the Hall of Famer: pic.twitter.com/jxv8RBCglB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2013

• Bill Plunkett of the OC Register shared on Sulia some strong words from Skip Schumaker to Ryan Braun.

"I can't stand it. It (PED use) needs to be eliminated from the game. I have an autographed Ryan Braun jersey hanging in my baseball room at home that I'll be taking down now because I don't want my son connecting this with what I had to do to get to to where I am and to have what I have."
Braun's 65-game negotiated suspension is not enough for Schumaker.

"In my opinion, it should be an automatic lifetime ban," he said. "One strike -- you're out. ... It's ridiculous. They're still doing it?" 

• Check out this great "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Jib Jab video featuring some Dodger players.
• Why the r/Dodger Reddit is the best.  They just replaced the downvote button with a pic of Ryan Braun.  See it on the left.  Barry Bonds had formerly occupied this space.
• Matt Novak at Paleofuture tells us of "Sci-Fi Legend Arthur C. Clarke's 1986 Predictions for Future Baseball" that includes a future scouting report on the 2019 Dodgers.
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Matt Kemp 'disappointed' in Ryan Braun; doesn't want his MVP award".

“I’m disappointed,” Kemp said. “I don’t like to get lied to. I don’t think anybody likes to get lied to. I think a lot of other people feel the same way. I’m not the only one in that boat. I’m just another one of those guys on the list that are disappointed in what has come about in the last couple days.”

• Then, Kemp says the same afternoon that Braun should lose the MVP award, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"Do I feel like it should be stripped? I mean, yeah, I do," Kemp said. "I feel like it should be, but that's not for me to decide, you know? That's not for me to decide."

• Via John Aravosis at AmericaBlog, "A wonderful tribute to a dying sports fan". 

From what I can glean from YouTube, Marck Bakker, aka Red Mark, was treated to a tribute at a soccer game in the Netherlands. Mark was terminally ill, and died three days after the tribute.

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