A Dodgers Crying Towel

I don't think we're at the point where the tears should start flowing, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

After all, the #5 spot in the starting rotation is in shambles.  Various injuries has setback numerous pitchers during spring training, and we are left wondering if the depth we thought we had was enough.  Furthermore, an untimely knee sprain to Corey Seager and a batted ball right at Andre Ethier's shin has me, along with thousands of fellow fans, on edge. 

As a consequence, I have my sights set on a vintage memorabilia piece I spotted at the "In the Park Collectibles" auction this weekend.  Check it out in the photo above.  Featured is an oddball looking paper towel with the words, "Dodgers Crying Towel" emblazoned on it.  It is thought to be from the Dodgers days in Brooklyn, but I cannot confirm that.  Having seen this item only once before, I still don't know who made this or where it comes from.  So, if you happen to have any insight please let me know.

BTW, the reason why something like this might exist dates back to the early days of futility for the Brooklyn club.  During the 20's they were often referred to as the "Daffiness Boys" for their unusual personalities and poor wit on the field.  Then the Brooklyn borough's affection for the team morphed into "Dem Bums;" as a sign sign of both derision and unconditional love.  As one might say, they were always the bridesmaid and never to bride -- that is until 1955 came around.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 21/Home Game 10

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Seattle Mariners (9-11-2) vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-8-2)
Monday, March 21, 2016 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (2-0, 5.87) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (1-0, 0.00)
TV: None Radio: None

Here’s how the #Dodgers & #Mariners will start today’s game. We’ll get you highlights & analysis at 7PM tonight. pic.twitter.com/umqG65vRH8

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 21, 2016

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(Kenley Jansen, pic via Jon SooHoo on twitter)

IT’S ONLY SPRING: The Dodgers, who have lost their last five games, look to snap their losing streak as they face the Seattle Mariners for the second time this spring at Camelback Ranch. Los Angeles, which played split-squad games yesterday, fell to both the Padres at home, 12-5, and to the Brewers at Maryvale, 3-1. In the home game, minor leaguer Jeremy Kehrt made his first start and appearance of Spring Training, after scheduled starter Mike Bolsinger was scratched prior to the game. Kehrt allowed six runs on nine hits in 1.1 innings of work and recorded the loss,  while Corey Brown drove in two runs on a single during a four-run sixth inning. Over in Maryvale, Scott Kazmir made his third Cactus League start, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in 4.0 innings and took the loss. At the plate, Charlie Culberson slugged his second homer of the spring with a solo shot in the fifth inning to collect the only run for the Dodgers.

• The Dodgers are playing the Mariners for the second time this spring after beating the M’s, 8-4, on March 12 at Peoria. Los Angeles swept Seattle in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium last year in their only meetings of the 2015 season.

(AGon, pic via @WBC on twitter)

VIVA MEXICO!: The Dodgers would like to congratulate Adrian Gonzalez and Team Mexico on its 12-1 win in last night’s WBC qualifier against Nicaragua in Mexicali, punching the ticket to the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Gonzalez finished the night going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. He returns to the Dodger lineup in today’s contest against the Mariners, making the start at first base and batting cleanup.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Dodgers would like to wish Frankie Montas a very happy birthday, as he turns 23 today! The right-handed pitcher was acquired from the White Sox in December in a three-team trade and appeared in seven games (two starts) with Chicago last year in his first Major League appearances, going 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA. 

ROSTER MOVES: Prior to yesterday’s game, the Dodgers optioned right-handed pitcher Zach Lee to minor-league camp. The Dodgers have 46 players in big-league camp, excluding Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas, who are on the 60-day DL.

ON THE AIR: The Dodger game on Sunday, March 27 against the Cincinnati Reds will be heard on AM 1150 in Los Angeles instead of AM 570 due to a scheduling conflict.

TODAY’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

• RHP Kenta Maeda will face off against fellow Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma of Seattle in his fourth start of the spring (0 ER/8.2 IP). Maeda last pitched March 15 when he allowed two unearned runs in 3.2 innings of work against the White Sox. The 27-year-old right-hander was signed to an eight-year contract on Jan. 7 following eight professional seasons with the Hiroshima Carp (2008-15) in which he compiled a 97-67 record with a 2.39 ERA in 218 games (217 starts). During the course of his Japanese career, Maeda won two Sawamura Awards (2010, 2015), given to the league’s best pitcher.
• LHP J.P. Howell will pitch in his sixth game this spring, after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning Saturday against the White Sox. Howell finished the 2015 season with a 6-1 record with one save and tossed scoreless relief in 59 of 65 appearances.
• RHP Kenley Jansen will make his sixth relief appearance, after most recently pitching 1.0 inning Saturday against the White Sox. Jansen enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third- highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).
• RHP Louis Coleman is expected to make his seventh Cactus League outing (0 ER/6.0 IP), last pitching 1.0 scoreless inning of relief against the White Sox. Coleman has given up just two hits and no runs thus far. He enters his first season with the Dodgers after signing with the club on Feb. 19, 2016.

(Kershaw & Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/21/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Ryu and our 5th Starter

This past Saturday was the Dodgers family day picnic, and Jon SooHoo of the Dodgers was kind enough to share some pics.  Check out Magic Johnson entertaining Clayton Kershaw and his young daughter in the photo above.  Go here to see a few more photos.

Below are more links to check out:

• Another prospect top get excited about.  Via Josh Norris at Baseball America, "Dodgers’ Alvarez Dazzles On Back Fields."

Alvarez used a loose, whippy arm to generate lively fastballs that started out in the low-90s and eventually built to the mid-90s before touching 99 mph near his outing’s end. He coupled the pitch with a low-80s slider that garnered swings and misses as well.

“I think his stuff is pretty good,” said Dodgers catcher Garrett Hope, who was surprised to find out Alvarez was throwing in the upper-90s. “Ninety-nine coming out of your mouth, that kind of blows my mind. I had no idea.”

• Chan Ho Park recently visited with Hyun-Jin Ryu at Camleback Ranch.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Park: Ryu can inspire with successful return."

"Young players watched him and saw you can make the Major Leagues, but it's even more important now for young pitchers to see his recovery and see him come back and pitch well," said Park. "Many young pitchers in Korea are injured and stop playing and we never see how good they can be. And we don't have that many like Ryu.

"So we need to learn from Ryu and from the Dodgers and their system to save our young pitchers. That's my hope and dream. If I opened the door for pitchers to come over here and play, he can open the door for pitchers to recover from injury and return."

• Andre should be OK.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Hobbled Andre Ethier says foul ball gave him a 'dead leg'"

"I squared myself up pretty good right there," Ethier said. "I wasn't sure if it hit off the ground before it hit my leg or not, and then someone watching the replay said I direct-lined it. It's just one of those plays that happen. My leg is littered with scars and marks from doing that over the years."

• ICYMI: one-time Dodger Chone Figgins to officially retire, via Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors.  
• Panini America shares a bunch of great pics and video of the San Diego Chicken's recent autograph signing in Santee (Link Here).
• Oy Vey!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 5th starter competition officially a mess: Bolsinger scratched, Beachy hurt, Lee optioned."  Certainly not a great situation, but we fortunately have enough time to sort things out.  Ken Gurnick at MLB.com shares a Dave Roberts quote:

"At this point, we'll see," Roberts said when asked who his fifth starter is. "I don't know how long [Bolsinger's] oblique is going to last and how serious it is. Obviously, there's Zach Lee, and I don't know where Beachy is right now.

"It just keeps happening, I guess. Bolsinger has a mild oblique strain, whatever that means, and whatever it takes we'll know as days go on. He'll get treatment and see where it goes from there. You win with pitching and defense. Look where we were at the start of camp and where we are now, it's a little frustrating. Every team goes through it in some capacity. It's another obstacle for us to deal with."

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