In spite of his team’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position, Dodger manager Don Mattingly has maintained his sense of humor through it all.

Before last Friday night’s game at Dodger Stadium, Mattingly was asked (jokingly, I assume) “When you go to Baltimore and you need a DH are you going to hit Kershaw or Ryu?”

“Aah, a comedian,” Mattingly said with a mischievousness grin on his face. “You know what my dad said about that? ‘There’s a thousand comedians out of work and you’re trying to be funny.’ Anything I had smart to say he always had that to say to me.”

As you can imagine, Mattingly’s reply got a laugh from the gathered media in the Dodger dugout. But as Dodger fans reflect in anguish over the team’s struggles through the first 15 games of the season and the loss of co-ace Zack Greinke, it appears that there may be some divine intervention taking place in Baltimore, Jack – and it’s no laughing matter.

As reported here on ThinkBlueLA yesterday, Dodger slugger Hanley Ramirez began taking live batting practice on Wednesday afternoon and actually hit a few balls into the Left Field Pavilion at Dodger Stadium. And a short while ago Dodger beat writer Ken Gurnick tweeted this:

Needless to say, Hanley Ramirez is already shocking the world, just as he claimed he would do regarding his speedy recovery and earlier-than-expected return date.

Ramirez appears to be keeping his promise to “shock the world” about his quick return to the Dodger line-up. (Photo credit – Lenny Ignelzi)

And though Hanley’s actual return date is still uncertain (I’m sticking with my earlier prediction of April 30 – his bobble head night at Dodger Stadium), Ramirez insists that he will break the news himself via Twitter.

Aah, a comedian.

Hurry back, Hanley!