Stan Kasten’s remarks perfectly underscored the Dodgers’ strategic mindset in their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani. It’s pretty remarkable how they spent years preparing for this moment, carefully weighing the impact on their roster and finances. That 10-year, $700-million deal—with those heavy deferrals—shows just how savvy they are, especially in keeping long-term payroll flexibility while landing a generational talent.

Adding Ohtani to the mix was indeed a game-changer; his unique combination of pitching and hitting prowess can elevate the team’s performance. And let’s be real—the buzz around Ohtani’s postseason debut is electric! Stan Kasten accurately captured the essence of Shohei Ohtani – think how rare it is to find someone who excels at both hitting for power and stealing bases.

Ohtani’s unique combination of skills is unlike anything we’ve seen in the game before.  So, when Kasten said, “They don’t make humans like that,” on ‘Foul Territory’, it highlighted just how exceptional Ohtani is. Kasten further added, “We know what a 50 HR hitter looks like. We know what the body of a 50 stolen base guy looks like… those are not the same body”.

Stan’s narrative is accurate—usually, the physique of a player who can hit 50 home runs is quite different from that of someone who can steal 50 bases. But Ohtani has defied those traditional categories, blending strength and speed in a way we rarely see. However, while fans and experts are appreciating Shotime’s incredible ability to go two-way, he might not do so in the games ahead, as explained by the Dodgers’ officials. 

One-way hitter mode on for Shohei Ohtani 

On Thursday, team manager Dave Roberts and the president of operations, Andrew Friedman, confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching for the upcoming World Series games. That’s definitely one major blow to Ohtani’s fans, but it makes sense for the team to have Ohtani focus solely on hitting during the World Series, especially with him recovering from elbow surgery. “He’s a one-way hitter for the next 10 days,” Friedman said.

Dave Roberts, too, was pretty firm about it— dismissing the possibilities of Ohtani pitching, which shows how they’re prioritizing his health and effectiveness at the plate. While this move is a bit of a letdown for fans hoping to see Ohtani’s pitching magic, keeping him sharp as a hitter is crucial for the team’s success. Given his incredible trajectory in the sport, Shohei Ohtani is still the biggest draw in this series, and his bat can make a huge impact on the outcome.

At the end of the day, everyone wants Ohtani to be at his best. Now, it’ll be exciting to see how he performs at the plate and influences the games, which is pivotal considering the historic value of the Yankees-Dodgers matchup. With this being their 12th World Series encounter, it highlights the depth of this rivalry. And the fact that all previous matchups occurred between 1941 and 1981 adds to the anticipation.

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