I think it is clear at this point that Alex Wood deserves an All-Star Game invitation. Last night he was masterful, once again, as he improved to 10-0 by throwing seven shut out innings with ten strike outs, two walks and only three hits allowed. Per Steve Gilbert and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:
"I don't know how often you get two 50-plus-win teams in the first half in the same division playing against each other, so it felt a little bigger tonight," said Wood, who allowed three hits. "Tensions were a little bit higher, especially in a 1-0 ballgame. You have to focus and bear down. They were close to kind of breaking through, but fortunately we were able to make some pitches and hold them where they were."The Dodgers now have 4.5 game lead over the Diamondbacks.
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Go here to check out a bunch of great pics by Dodger photographers Jon SooHoo and Jill Weisleder from the 4th of July. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 Leo Durocher recorded a "little league" home run that started as an sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning during the All-Star Game played in Cincinnati. Durocher was credited with a bunt single and came around to score on errors by Jimmy Foxx and Joe DiMaggio. In 1979 the Dodgers purchased the contract of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela from Puebla of the Mexican League. In 1980 the Dodgers retired Duke Snider's uniform #4 during that days Oldtimers Day ceremonies at Dodger Stadium. In 2000 Vin Scully is voted the No. 1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Association.
- Happy Birthday, Frank Kellert, Willie Randolph & Germán Rivera!
- Video: Dave Roberts praises Alex Wood after 10 strikeouts through 7 innings against the D-Backs on Wednesday. (video link)
- Video: Alex Wood speaks after 10 strikeouts and earning his 10th victory of the season against Arizona on Wednesday. (video link)
- Per Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "3 Dodgers make Baseball Prospectus midseason top 50 prospects list."
The three Dodgers in the Baseball Prospectus top 50 are pitcher Walker Buehler (19th), outfielder Alex Verdugo (27th) and pitcher Yadier Alvarez (28th).
BTW, Walker Buehler was also just named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week, per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA.
- This is music to my ears. Per Michael Leboff at MiLB.com: "Quakes' Peters takes MadBum to school: Dodgers prospect homers twice in same inning off Giants ace."
"First off, it's Madison Bumgarner and he's one of the best pitchers of the game," Peters said. "He's a three-time World Series champion and basically single-handedly won the Giants the World Series in 2014. Whenever you face a guy like that, you want to enjoy the moment and gauge the situation you're in and the atmosphere. My whole mind-set was to just have fun because I got to face one of the best pitchers in the game of baseball." ...
- Per Joshua Thornton at MLB.com: "Kershaw makes tough decision to miss ASG: Dodgers' lefty will start Sunday as planned"
"We talked to Clayton and he's made it very clear that his priority is the Dodgers," Roberts said. "And obviously it's something he's never done as far as start an All-Star Game. The way that the rotation was slotted, we don't see him pitching in that game."
- Here's my comment about the brewing controversy currently hitting card manufacturer Panini America. As you may know, the autographs attain by them that feature Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are obviously not real. The young star decided to use an "autopen" to sign the cards, and I suppose he figured folks wouldn't know. Unsurprisingly, fans and collectors could easily tell. Go here more background on this.
This kind of chicanery (i.e. fraud) must stop and it's surprising folks continue to try commit these crimes -- and make no mistake this is a crime. These fraudsters would do well to recall the FBI's Operation Bullpen and the recent Eli Manning memorabilia imbroglio. Also, card manufacturer need to be more vigilant about this kind of thing. That said, the NFL needs to do something along the lines of what MLB has done -- creating a league-wide authentication program that has been devoid of controversy.
- Here's a couple of great stories initially pointed to by Tom Hoffarth at Farther of the Wall that are worth your time to check out -- particularly since they both refer to Vin Scully:
- Via Maria Bustillos at ESPN: "Pipo, pelota and the lessons of a long-ago life."
The sound would be turned all the way down by means of a knob on the front of what people still called "the set." The console stereo against the opposite wall had an AM band, and Vin Scully would be turned all the way up for the duration of the game. I must have been in my 20s before I realized that my grandfather, who barely spoke English, had always been so particular about this. I later learned that many other grandparents and parents were in the same habit, denying the TV announcer his voice in favor of the radio titan (who would one day become a TV titan too). Something in Vin Scully's voice embodied everything fun, not just in baseball but in the world. Everything safe.
- Via Alice Yun at the NY Times; "How Sports Fans Choose Their Teams: Readers Share Their Stories."
Inextricably tied together, the Dodgers and Vin Scully raised me, nourished me, showed me why the world needs baseball. As my parents changed jobs and I moved schools and homes, there was always a voice and a team I could count on. As I watched Scully’s final game as the Dodgers’ broadcaster, tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. I realized my world was about to lose something that it had never gone without.
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