By Jon Weisman

How exciting a 2014 has it been for the Dodgers? I started out planning to pick out the top 10 plays of the first half of the season, then (after realizing that Dee Gordon could practically fill that quota by himself) saw that list balloon to 40.

So here, in all their glory (and in an unplanned tribute to Casey Kasem), are the biggest thrills of the first 81 games. Thanks to MLB.com for the videos, as well as pieces of text here and there.

Now, prepare to lose yourself …

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March 30 at San Diego: Hyun-Jin Ryu fields a sharp comebacker and throws to home to start a double play and escape a bases-loaded jam in the first.
[mlbvideo id=”31715865″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Adrian Gonzalez follows suit, throws to Hanley Ramirez to start an inning-ending double play in the seventh.
[mlbvideo id=”31716417″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 4 vs. San Francisco: Can’t forget this one. Vin Scully gracefully dispatched the ceremonial first pitch to Sandy Koufax before the Dodgers’ home opener against the Giants.
[mlbvideo id=”31822781″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 6 vs. San Francisco: Matt Kemp hits his second homer of the game, a feat later to be matched by Hanley Ramirez.
[mlbvideo id=”31889251″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 8 vs. Detroit: Dee Gordon stuns Max Scherzer and the Tigers with a leadoff homer to right.
[mlbvideo id=”31925227″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

In perhaps the single most memorable pitcher-batter confrontation of the year (outside of the final out of a no-hitter), Kenley Jansen blows a fastball by Miguel Cabrera for the ninth-inning strikeout.
[mlbvideo id=”31944123″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

An inning later, Carl Crawford delivers a walkoff double to left field to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory in the 10th.
[mlbvideo id=”31931047″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 9 vs. Detroit: Hanley Ramirez makes a backhanded stop and fires to first to get the inning-ending out.
[mlbvideo id=”31963487″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 11 at Arizona: Juan Uribe charges a grounder and quickly fires to first to take a hit away from Martin Prado.
[mlbvideo id=”32000985″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 17 at San Francisco: The never-to-be-forgotten Yasiel Puig double-dip.
[mlbvideo id=”32157465″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 18 vs. Arizona: Zack Greinke reaches across his body to make a fine stop on the comebacker and throws to first to retire Cody Ross.
[mlbvideo id=”32190557″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 20 vs. Arizona: Yaisel Puig throws out Miguel Montero nearly out of nowhere.
[mlbvideo id=”32239047″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 24 vs. Philadelphia: Adrian Gonzalez rips a game-tying homer in the seventh.
[mlbvideo id=”32362957″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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April 25 vs. Colorado: Dee Gordon’s incredible infield double.
[mlbvideo id=”32379375″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 1 at Minnesota: Justin Turner makes a sliding grab to his left and a strong throw to first to retire Josmil Pinto.
[mlbvideo id=”32526113″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Scott Van Slyke with one of the biggest hits of the year, a 12th-inning tiebreaking homer.
[mlbvideo id=”32526835″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 3 at Miami: Carl Crawford’s first homer of the season comes at a wonderful time, in the 11th inning.
[mlbvideo id=”32588949″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 11 vs. San Francisco: Matt Kemp gets a late jump but still robs Tim Hudson.
[mlbvideo id=”32799773″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

This game was an uphill battle all day long, and the Dodgers got their best view when Hanley Ramirez hit a game-tying two-run shot with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
[mlbvideo id=”32804353″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 14 vs. Miami: How to turn a lowlight into a highlight? Catcher Drew Butera pitches in relief and retires the side in order, capping things with a strikeout.
[mlbvideo id=”32887245″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 22 at New York: Yasiel Puig with a catch so out of this world, you needed space-age analysis.
[mlbvideo id=”33676413″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 25 at Philadelphia: If Josh Beckett’s no-hitter had a big play, this might have been it. Newbie shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena ranges for a grounder, then fires to to get the out.
[mlbvideo id=”33165805″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

But of course, the biggest moment of the day was this: Beckett’s called strike three to complete his first no-hitter.
[mlbvideo id=”33159573″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 26 vs. Cincinnati: In support of Hyun-Jin Ryu’s perfect-game bid, Justin Turner dives to his left to field the grounder and fires to first to retire Zack Cozart.
[mlbvideo id=”33202719″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 27 vs. Cincinnati: Andre Ethier clears the bases on a triple off Alfredo Simon to build the Dodgers’ lead from one run to four.
[mlbvideo id=”33222909″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 29 vs. Pittsburgh: Dee Gordon leaps to start a double play.
[mlbvideo id=”33282421″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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May 30 vs. Pittsburgh: It’s a double play another way for Gordon, who kicks things off with a dive and glove-flip.
[mlbvideo id=”33312339″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 7 at Colorado: With the Dodgers down 3-1 in the seventh, Tim Federowicz shocks the Rockies with a three-run blast to left.
[mlbvideo id=”33520029″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 8 at Colorado: A balletic Adrian Gonzalez jumps to make the catch on Miguel Rojas’ high throw and lands on first base for the out.
[mlbvideo id=”33562029″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Long, long distance: Hanley Ramirez launches a mammoth solo home run out of Coors Field.
[mlbvideo id=”33564399″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 14 vs. Arizona: Dan Haren has the biggest hit at the plate of a Dodger pitcher this year, a bases-clearing double.
[mlbvideo id=”33729875″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 15 vs. Arizona: Will the Diamondbacks never learn? Yasiel Puig makes a barehanded play on Cody Ross’ blooper into right field and nails Ross at second base.
[mlbvideo id=”33753053″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 16 vs. Colorado: Dee Gordon thrills the Dodger Stadium crowd, racing ’round the bases in under 14 seconds with this triple plus error.
[mlbvideo id=”33780461″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 18 vs. Colorado: The big defensive play of the night: Miguel Rojas snags Troy Tulowitzki’s grounder at third, then fires to first for the out to keep Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter and shutout alive.
[mlbvideo id=”33847933″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Kershaw finishes off his 15-strikeout, 28-batter, no-hit, no-walk masterpiece by fanning Corey Dickerson.
[mlbvideo id=”33848821″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 20 at San Diego: Remember that time Dee Gordon raced ’round the bases? Well, in case you forgot …
[mlbvideo id=”33889571″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 25 at Kansas City: Gold Glover Steve Garvey doesn’t make this catch. Scott Van Slyke uses all his height to start this game-ending double play.
[mlbvideo id=”34047645″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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June 26 vs. St. Louis: Even after the ball deflects off second base, Dee Gordon’s has the Deeflexes to react and throw out Yadier Molina.
[mlbvideo id=”34074125″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Same inning: Matt Kemp nails Allen Craig at the plate to preserve a scoreless tie.
[mlbvideo id=”34076579″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

One inning later: Justin Turner’s RBI single is enough to give the Dodgers’ their first 1-0 victory of the year, in the last game of the first half.
[mlbvideo id=”34074749″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]