Dodgers: New Year’s Resolutions for All of the Team

Pitchers

Clayton Kershaw: I resolve to keep my back in great shape, make 30 starts, pitch more than 200 innings, striking out 250 batters, leading the league in earned run average and lead the team back to the World Series. As the senior member of the team, I will continue to work harder than anyone and lead by example. I further resolve to not opt out of my contract next November.

Rich Hill: I resolve to keep throwing more curveballs than any human arm should be able to throw. I will not get any blisters in 2018. I will finish with an earned run average near 3.00. When called upon to pitch Game 2 of next year’s World Series, I will find a way to convince my manager to let me pitch more than four innings.

Alex Wood: I resolve to be no less than 75 percent as good as I was in 2017. I will follow Clayton’s work ethic. I, too, resolve to have an ERA near 3.00, and I will not make more than one trip to the disabled list.

Kenta Maeda: I resolve to start the season in the rotation, but I will not be disappointed when my manager moves me to the bullpen full time after the All-Star break.

Hyun-Jin Ryu: I resolve to start the season in the rotation, but I will not be disappointed when I go on the disabled list before Memorial Day. I also will not be disappointed when my team trades me to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package for outfielder Avisail Garcia in late July.

Julio Urias: I resolve to not rush back from surgery, knowing full well the team will be in first place when I make my season debut. When I do return, I resolve to stay patient and slowly work my way back, even if that means spending some time at AAA. When I am asked to start Game 4 of the World Series, I will channel my inner Fernando Valenzuela and pitch the Dodgers to a victory on the road.

Walker Buehler: I resolve to be willing to start the season in the Oklahoma City rotation. I will continue to strengthen my arm after Tommy John surgery two years ago, readying myself to be dropped into the fifth spot in the Los Angeles rotation when Hyun-Jin goes on the DL. I resolve to do so well that management cannot take me out of the rotation for the next decade.

Pedro Baez: I resolve to not be a human rain delay every time I take the mound. I resolve to pitch like I did for the first four months of the season and not the last month and a half, which kept me off the post-season roster. I resolve to pitch my way into being the 8^th inning setup man for Kenly Jansen, allowing management to seek other players at the trade deadline instead of my replacement.

Tony Cingrani: I resolve to become the left-handed specialist the Dodgers have been looking for. I resolve to pitch to my .194 batting average against and .497 OPS against in September and October, rather than my .342 BA against and 1.247 OPS against in July.

Luis Avilan: No, I resolve to become the left-handed specialist the Dodgers have been looking for. I resolve to pitch to my second half .177 batting average against and .534 OPS against, rather than my first half .304 BA against and .851 OPS against in 2017.

Tom Koehler: I resolve to be mentally ready to move full time to the bullpen, realizing that this could be the springboard to the second half of my career (and possibly make me the next Joe Blanton or Brandon Morrow).

Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling: We resolve to think that we’re permanent fixtures on the club, but quietly know that we’re trade bait. We resolve to be mentally ready to be part of the bullpen on Opening Day.

Kenley Jansen: Well, I guess I resolve to just keep doing what I’ve been doing.