Part 7/9:
The discussion also touched upon how the game has evolved, particularly regarding pitching and hitting strategies. Hosmer noted the dramatic rise in pitching velocity and the changes in hitter's approaches due to advanced analytics. He contrasted the experiences of older players—who relied on intuition and traditional techniques—with the younger generation, which is shaped heavily by data and metrics.
With teams prioritizing velocity over command, hitters now face a barrage of overpowering fastballs and breaking pitches that challenge their ability to perform consistently. Hosmer emphasized that while analytics have their benefits, there is an essential need to balance them with fundamental baseball strategies.