WHEN SUMMER ARRIVED and his pitching progression intensified, Shohei Ohtani essentially stopped running. In an attempt to preserve his body for the added stress it was about to endure, Ohtani stole just two bases throughout June and July.

Now, even as he approaches the workload of a traditional starting pitcher, the aggressiveness that helped make him the first 50/50 player in baseball history is showing up again. In 12 games in August, Ohtani has attempted five steals, a shift Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attributes to the urgency of this moment. The Dodgers are reeling, Ohtani is looking to maximize his opportunities to help, and so he's forcing action.

It's a small part of a bigger conflict -- between what Ohtani can do and what the Dodgers believe he should.

Ohtani

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