Part 4/7:
The Evolution of the Game
Chipper then contemplates how baseball has evolved, particularly regarding the consensus on hitting approaches. He expresses admiration for players like Chris Sale and Shohei Ohtani, characterizing Ohtani as “phenomenal,” yet expressing concern about the sustainability of such a talented two-way player in today’s high-pressure environment.
“The bat plays,” he asserts about Ohtani’s hitting, while remaining skeptical about the long-term effect of his pitching workload. Chipper views the changes in player dynamics as part of a natural progression seen throughout baseball history, where strategy and philosophy shift with the times.