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

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