LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are in rare territory, putting up jaw-dropping numbers while piling up victories and commanding a 7 1/2-game lead in the NL West. Ahead or behind, against NL or AL teams, the Dodgers are rolling merrily along, owning an eight-game winning streak and undefeated in their last 16 series. They open a seven-game road trip at Philadelphia on Friday, when theyll try to equal the clubs longest winning streak since winning nine in a row from May 9-18, 2010. "Were coming in with great attitude and a little bit of swag," utility player Nick Punto said. That wasnt the case nearly two months ago for a team whose $215 million opening day payroll carried huge expectations. They were 30-42 on June 22 and manager Don Mattingly was on the hot seat. Since that date, the Dodgers own the majors best record at 40-8. Its the franchises best 48-game run in the modern era and the tops in the majors since the 1942 Cardinals went 41-7 from Aug. 11-Oct. 1. Los Angeles is 70-50 overall. "It doesnt matter who theyre throwing or what lineups Donnie has made," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "We have confidence." It shows, especially in one-run games. The Dodgers have won a franchise-record 12 in a row, going 19-11 in such contests this season. They havent lost a one-run game since June 10 against Arizona. The team rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Mets 5-4 on Wednesday. A franchise that has missed the playoffs for the last three years and hasnt been in the World Series since winning it in 1988 has been installed by Las Vegas bookmakers as the favourite to win it all. "Theyre playing great defence, theyre pitching like crazy and theyre coming up with big hits," said Mets manager Terry Collins, whose team got swept on Wednesday. "And you dont have to play much better if youre doing all those things." Five reasons the Dodgers have turned themselves into a first-place team: 1. PUIG AND RAMIREZ: The teams improbable run began about three weeks after outfielder Yasiel Puig got called up in early June. He leads the club with a .368 batting average, and has 11 homers and 27 RBIs. The 22-year-old Cuban defector has imbued the Dodgers with a passion, on and off the field, that they sorely lacked to start the season. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is close behind, hitting .360 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs. He returned Wednesday for the first time since hurting his shoulder against the Cubs on Aug. 4. 2. PITCHING: Ace Clayton Kershaw and veteran Zack Greinke are leading the rotation, with South Korean Hyun-Jin Ryu putting up solid numbers, too. Kershaws 11-7 record is merely average due to a lack of run support (the team has scored just 10 runs in those losses), but his stellar ERA of 1.88 leads the majors. Greinke is 7-1 with a 2.49 ERA in 10 starts since June 22, when the Dodgers tied for the fourth-worst record in baseball. Ryu is quietly making a bid for rookie of the year, with the left-hander ranking among the NL leaders in wins (12), winning percentage (12-3, .800) and ERA (2.91). 3. DEEP BENCH: The bench includes veterans who have played on championship teams but now dont get to play every day. Punto filled in for Ramirez and hit .450. Jerry Hairston Jr., Skip Schumaker and Juan Uribe serve as reliable pinch hitters or double switch candidates. Their voices have gotten louder in the clubhouse as theyve grown comfortable in their roles, even if its just providing comic relief at times. "Theres a lot of characters in this clubhouse," Punto said. "Theres a lot of ribbing going on all day long." 4. BULLPEN: Closer Kenley Jansen has stabilized the bullpen, converting 12 consecutive save chances although he allowed a run Tuesday against the Mets for the first time since July 23. The reliever corps is 11-1 with 18 saves in 19 opportunities since June 22. Ronald Belisario, Brandon League, new Dodger Carlos Marmol and Paco Rodriguez have all played key roles in setting up Jansen. 5. WAITING IN THE WINGS: The Dodgers have extra firepower just waiting to join them. Newly signed reliever Brian Wilson should be with the club by the weekend after rehabbing in the minors. Slugger Matt Kemp could be back by the end of the month from a sprained left ankle. Hes played in just 11 games during the Dodgers historic run, and only one since the All-Star break because of injuries that have resulted in three stints on the disabled list. Leicester City Nampalys Mendy Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Leicester City Hamza Choudhury Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. http://www.cheapleicestercityjersey.com/ . 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Dont expect the opening ceremony at the Rio Olympics to match the grandeur of some in the past.But do look for plenty of smiles, scenic depictions of the rainforest and a celebration of the countrys ethnic diversity.Marco Balich, the Italian executive producer, would not disclose finer details ahead of Fridays opener, but offered broad strokes on how the host countrys heritage will be honored.This is not the most grand show, he said Monday from Rio, though he wouldnt disclose how much money he had to spend. This is not an opulent show compared to London or compared to Beijing, but it will be a very emotional ceremony, full of heart and very graceful.Balich is an experienced Olympic hand. He created, directed and produced the opening for the Torino Winter Games and served as executive producer of the closing ceremony in Sochi and the Paralympics there in 2014.In all, 4,800 performers and volunteers will be involved in the show built on three basic pillars touching on sustainability, particularly re-forestation, smile and the idea of gambiarra, the quirky Brazilian art of improvising repairs using whatever parts are available.Smile is the approach the Brazilians have toward life, Balich said. Brazil is not a grand nation. Theyre saying in this ceremony, we are who we are, with a lot of social problems, a lot of crises in the political system etcetera.He promises a contemporary and cool approach, one especially inspired by native son and renowned photographer Sebastiao Salgado and his work with his Instituto Terrra on property once owned by his family.dddddddddddd. Today, the land is a nature preserve, and the nonprofit raises millions of seedlings and trains ecologists.The message is Brazil has the last garden in the world, which is the Amazon, and we need to protect that garden, Balich said. This is a message of hope for the future. This is not a message of `oh the world is going to terminate because of global warming.Other strong elements will include a celebration of Brazils ethnic diversity and its rich music, from bossa nova to hippy-hoppy, as they say in Portuguese, Balich said. And, of course, there will be a touch of Carnival. Hes using some of the same costumers around Rio who design for Carnival.The traditional Olympic cauldron will be a small affair. There will not be a large volume of fire as an intentional show of small and low emission, organizers said. To frame the small flame, a large sculpture by the artist Anthony Howe will appear behind it, symbolizing the sun. It will be set in motion with spirals representing life.The idea of the opening, always, is to showcase the host countrys culture, something that has earned oohs and aahs through time, usually also accompanied by some head-scratching as traditions and history play out.We are going back to humanity. Were going back to people. The audience here, as soon as they hear the music, you stand up and dance, Balich said. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '