I think it's safe to say that Beast Mode is back - Big Time! Matt Kemp was explosive at the plate for the second straight game. He belted his 3rd home in two games, and knocked in the winning run in extra innings with a walk-off base hit.
All of the sudden, Matt Kemp is looking like the slugger of old. He's driving the ball with authority and looks absolutely unbeatable at the plate. Just when I thought we should be fortunate to see him finally hitting for average, he decides to prove me wrong by hitting for power too. Wow! With him back in the saddle there's no telling how far this team could go.
The Dodgers have now won five straight and lead the National League West by three games. The pic at the very top is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014. Check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game and Vin Scully's press conference prior to the game here.
- Collectors from throughout the country have descended on the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland. Panini is running a wrapper redemption program there that is filled with scarce promos and autographs; including the Clayton Kershaw autographed card on the right. Check out more photos of what they are giving away here.
- Huh? So, the Dodgers completed their trade with the Cubs by sending Class-A pitcher Jonathan Martinez to Chicago for infielder Darwin Barney. Then, they optioned Barney to Albuquerque. Apparently, he's not coming to Los Angeles right away, but will likely be here when the rosters expand later in the season.
- Via Steve Dilbeck at The LA Times, "Vin Scully will never understand how deeply he's touched us."
“In all honesty, I don’t ever feel I’ve done anything,” he said. “Somebody will say, 'You’ve done 19 no-hitters and three perfect games.’ And I think I just happened to be there. It’s not something I can take any pride in. I am humbled, believe me, for being given the honor of working the games all these years.
- Via Jill Painter at the LA Daily News, "Vin Scully couldn’t say goodbye to another year with Los Angeles Dodgers."
“I couldn’t say goodbye,” Scully said. “I say that in all honesty. When I come to the ballpark, I’m so happy to see Marie and Rita running the elevator. And to see James and Robert in the press box. I walk in and see most of you (reporters). Most of you are friends. I just feel like (I’m) home.
“Then I walk into the booth with Boyd and Robbie, and of course there’s Charley (Steiner) and Rick (Monday), my good pals I see every day. It’s all part of me. That’s why it will be so difficult to say goodbye.”
- Now, listen to Vin Scully on the AM570 Petros and Money show, here.
- The Sports Dude on Power106 speaks to Matt Kemp about the trade rumors & more. Listen to it here.
- Via Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs, "The Fringe Five: Baseball’s Most Compelling Fringe Prospects;" includes Dodger outfielder Scott Schebler.
While not uniformly celebrated for his tools, Schebler has demonstrated enough both of power (21 HR per 600 PA) and speed (14 SB per 600 PA) as a professional to warrant some attention.
- Via the AP on NESN, "Player Attacked With Bat By Jose Offerman Wins Nearly $1M In Lawsuit." Do you remember when this happened in 2007?
- Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "Photos, Video from 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention."
- I just discovered a fun YouTube web series called "The Breaks" and it is made especially for card collectors. Watch episode #1 below.
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