Yankees’ Jose Caballero Upset Over Pitch Clock Violation in Doubleheader Loss

Jose Caballero and the New York Yankees are feeling frustrated with Major League Baseball (MLB) for reinforcing rules that contributed to their disappointing 10-inning loss during the first game of a split doubleheader on Wednesday in the Bronx, especially since they weren’t consulted about these changes.

In the sixth inning, with two outs and a runner on base, Caballero was handed an automatic strike for not adhering to the pitch timer. This violation came on the second strike of his at-bat, which ended with him striking out looking.

Typically, Caballero tends to wait until the last few seconds of the pitch clock to engage with the pitcher, looking down for a brief moment before stepping into the box. However, the rules dictate that he must be ready when eight seconds are left. He was called for the violation with nine seconds remaining.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed his concerns, saying, “Major League Baseball has brought in new players, so we have to change.” His frustration was compounded by the fact that there were conversations between league officials and umpires regarding the enforcement of this rule, yet the Yankees weren’t involved.

When Boone was asked if he felt upset that the Yankees weren’t notified about the incident beforehand, he replied, “I’m very, very embarrassed.”

After the incident, home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott was overheard telling Caballero, “You can’t do another three or four seconds in the box.” Caballero appeared to feel bullied, responding to Wolcott, “You’re bullying me.” Following this exchange, hitting coach James Rowson was ejected after Boone stepped in to defend his player.

Walcott later told reporters, “He had been booked all season. We were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him. That’s what it is. A violation. We did not warn him.” He explained further that Caballero’s behavior of looking down and avoiding eye contact with the pitcher during that time has led to numerous confrontations before.

This odd behavior isn’t new; recently, it escalated into a dispute between Caballero and Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana during a game. Caballero defended himself then, indicating he was simply following his routine. “If you get frustrated, I’m winning. For me, it’s a battle in the box and I’m trying to win that battle,” he noted.

Now, Caballero faces the challenge of altering his habits, which he doesn’t seem pleased about. He remarked, “I’ve seen other players do other things, but they didn’t ask for anything. I can name players I’ve seen cheating on pitchers, but they won’t say it’s their fault. They’ll just say it’s my fault. Like I said, they’re just bullying me.”