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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31715865

Adrian Gonzalez follows suit, throws to Hanley Ramirez to start an inning-ending double play in the seventh.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31716417

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31822781

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31889251

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April 8 vs. Detroit: Dee Gordon stuns Max Scherzer and the Tigers with a leadoff homer to right.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31925227

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31944123

An inning later, Carl Crawford delivers a walkoff double to left field to give the Dodgers a 3–2 victory in the 10th.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31931047

* * *

April 9 vs. Detroit: Hanley Ramirez makes a backhanded stop and fires to first to get the inning-ending out.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31963487

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32000985

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April 17 at San Francisco: The never-to-be-forgotten Yasiel Puig double-dip.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32157465

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32190557

* * *

April 20 vs. Arizona: Yaisel Puig throws out Miguel Montero nearly out of nowhere.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32239047

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April 24 vs. Philadelphia: Adrian Gonzalez rips a game-tying homer in the seventh.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32362957

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April 25 vs. Colorado: Dee Gordon’s incredible infield double.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32379375

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32526113

Scott Van Slyke with one of the biggest hits of the year, a 12th-inning tiebreaking homer.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32526835

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32588949

* * *

May 11 vs. San Francisco: Matt Kemp gets a late jump but still robs Tim Hudson.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32799773

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32804353

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32887245

* * *

May 22 at New York: Yasiel Puig with a catch so out of this world, you needed space-age analysis.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33676413

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33165805

But of course, the biggest moment of the day was this: Beckett’s called strike three to complete his first no-hitter.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33159573

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33202719

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33222909

* * *

May 29 vs. Pittsburgh: Dee Gordon leaps to start a double play.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33282421

* * *

May 30 vs. Pittsburgh: It’s a double play another way for Gordon, who kicks things off with a dive and glove-flip.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33312339

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33520029

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33562029

Long, long distance: Hanley Ramirez launches a mammoth solo home run out of Coors Field.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33564399

* * *

June 14 vs. Arizona: Dan Haren has the biggest hit at the plate of a Dodger pitcher this year, a bases-clearing double.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33729875

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33753053

* * *

June 16 vs. Colorado: Dee Gordon thrills the Dodger Stadium crowd, racing ‘round the bases in under 14 seconds with this triple plus error.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33780461

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33847933

Kershaw finishes off his 15-strikeout, 28-batter, no-hit, no-walk masterpiece by fanning Corey Dickerson.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33848821

* * *

June 20 at San Diego: Remember that time Dee Gordon raced ‘round the bases? Well, in case you forgot …

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33889571

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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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34047645

* * *

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34074125

Same inning: Matt Kemp nails Allen Craig at the plate to preserve a scoreless tie.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34076579

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.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34074749