Yankees’ Jose Caballero Shines Despite Umpire Dispute
On Sunday, Jose Caballero showcased his versatility by playing second base, third base, and left field over the course of the game. In what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a day—filled with nearly daily squabbles with the home plate umpire regarding the pitch clock—he capped it all off with a stunning 420-foot home run.
After the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 8-3 at Rogers Center, manager Aaron Boone chuckled, saying, “We had enough experience today.” He added, “He really put in the right level of checks to lock it in there.”
Although Caballero’s day ended triumphantly with a three-run homer in the ninth that provided some much-needed cushion for the Yankees, it was clear he took pleasure in leisurely rounding the bases. Yet, his previous clash with the umpire was rather serious.
The game was tied during the sixth inning when Caballero found himself in a heated discussion with home plate umpire Steve Jasinski before pitcher Spencer Miles took the mound. As is often the case for Caballero, the issue revolved around his strategy of using timing rules to his advantage—specifically, not glancing at the pitcher until a mere eight seconds remained. This tactic can be tricky since pitchers aren’t allowed to enter their set until the batter signals readiness.
Caballero claimed that Jasinski warned him, “If I looked down, he was going to call me a strike.”
“They changed the rules without any notice,” Caballero said, baffled. “I don’t understand why they would do that. Rules are rules. They created them, and they should handle it. I’m just trying to adapt to the new system they introduced.”
Following a long dialogue that involved crew chief John Tampane and Boone, among others, it was announced that Caballero had been warned for “deliberately delaying” the game.
Caballero expressed his desire for more clarity on the rules, as he felt they were being inconsistently enforced. Boone noted that he plans to bring this issue up with the league.
“You keep doing the same thing repeatedly, whether it’s from the windup or from the stretch,” Caballero explained. “If pitchers get a bit impatient, that’s really not my problem. You can tell when a pitcher is calm versus when they start to rush.”
“But honestly, I’m just hoping someone can clarify what the actual rules are, because at this point, I’m pretty confused,” he added.
Injury Updates
Giancarlo Stanton will undergo tests on Monday to assess the extent of a recent calf setback. He won’t return during the forthcoming homestand as initially expected, though how long he’ll be sidelined remains uncertain.
“He felt a slight setback in the same area of his calf,” Boone commented. “This will certainly slow him down a bit. To what extent, we’ll have to see.”
Austin Wells, dealing with a neck issue, is likely to play in some rehab games this week, with Boone indicating he could be eligible to return by Tuesday.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was not in the starting lineup due to recent injuries, including a toe injury from a foul ball. However, he was used as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and managed to walk in all three of his at-bats.
