The first day of a new year is always packed with possibilities. And so it is for 2023. Day-1. January 1, 2023. It’s an empty slate.

As we close the door on 2022, most Dodger fans are aware of the ups and downs of another season come and gone. Los Angeles lost their voice in legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, beloved outfielder Tommy Davis, and famed infielder Maury Wills. And while the Boys in Blue managed a franchise record of 111 wins during the regular season, they, unfortunately, did not advance past the NLDS. Year in and year out, we all suffer and celebrate this team together – win or lose. 

With the start of a new year, baseball countdowns are also reset. There are only 55 days until the first Spring Training game and 88 days until Opening Day at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It will be interesting to see how the year unfolds with many core free agents departing. This has left the team in flux with the many new faces we are sure to see this year. 

There will still be some veteran leadership with mainstays like pitching ace and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw and his battery mate, catcher Austin Barnes, as well as the familiar faces around the diamond in catcher Will Smith, infielders Max Muncy and Gavin Lux, utility player Chris Taylor, along with the beloved All-Stars, right-fielder Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Spring Training will showcase how well the Los Angeles farm system is performing. Many minor league players will get to vie for their potential shot at playing in “The Show.” The roster will undergo a rebuild, hopefully resulting in new comradery and cohesiveness in the clubhouse. 

All that to say as 2023 gets underway, the ball club and the fanbase are in for some surprises. 

This will also be the year that all 30 MLB teams will have a chance to play each other at least once on the schedule. And the first time since the pandemic that both Spring Training and the regular season will start on time.

Manager Dave Roberts has said in past interviews that he carries the mindset that this team is going all the way. There would be no point in second-guessing that since the goal for any major league team is to go home World Series Champions at the end of the season.

Despite the disappointment of a postseason that ended early in 2022, we can all look forward to a clean slate and, hopefully, another opportunity to make another run for the Fall Classic in 2023.

As resolutions are being made and we decide how we want this year to look for each of us personally, we can also add going to Dodger games, watching on television, or listening on the radio to that list. 

Here’s to following our Boys in Blue in the new year. Happy New Year to everyone!

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