Rich Hill closes the book Friday night on what’s been yet another tumultuous spring. The veteran left-hander enters 0-2 with an 8.03 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in five starts. Hill has allowed at least three runs in three of the five outings.
He twice pitched on a back field at Camelback Ranch as a means of improving command and to make strides toward stretching out. Having endured struggles in previous years, Hill’s focus remains on preparation for the regular season, not Spring Training results.
Lying within that is the Dodgers’ goal of winning their first World Series since 1988. Hill, who re-signed with the club for three years and $48 million, figures to factor heavily into the Dodgers’ success.
“The goal is to win the World Series. If you have a target in place where the ship is heading, and everybody is on board, it’s about the process,” he said this spring.
“We know the end results, so it’s about how are we going to get there? It’s consistently doing the little things on a daily basis, giving the best you can every single time you go out there and your effort is consistent, that’s what leads to success.”
Hill has regularly stressed remaining in the moment and focusing on what can be controlled. The insightful veteran is also a believer of reaping what you sow. “Your expectations should be based on what your effort is going to be,” Hill said.
“Nobody can judge that except for yourself. Every time you go out there, you know whether you gave everything you could.”
Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager were also among those to embrace the Dodgers’ expectations of winning a World Series this season. Team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman feels a self-imposed pressure to bring a title to Los Angeles, and manager Dave Roberts said a successful season equates to being crowned champions.
Hill doesn’t believe the club should shy away from openly discussing the goal. “Our expectation is to win the World Series,” he reiterated.
“I believe the more you believe that and talk about it, everybody starts feeling it and realizing it, and the process kind of takes care of itself.”
