{"id":779022,"date":"2026-07-23T02:21:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T02:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/779022\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T02:21:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T02:21:17","slug":"yankees-livid-with-mlb-over-handling-of-jose-caballero-pitch-timer-fiasco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/779022\/","title":{"rendered":"Yankees livid with MLB over handling of Jose Caballero pitch-timer fiasco"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jos\u00e9 Caballero and the Yankees are furious with Major League Baseball for reemphasizing a rule without addressing it with them during a frustrating 10-inning, 5-3 loss to the Pirates<\/a> in the opener of a split doubleheader in The Bronx on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

With two outs and a runner on first base in the sixth inning, Caballero was called for an automatic strike on a pitch-clock violation. It was the second strike of the at-bat that would end with the shortstop striking out.<\/p>\n

Caballero routinely waits until the last moment on the clock to engage with the pitcher, looking down for several seconds as he steps into the batter\u2019s box and gets ready to take his at-bat. It is a stalling tactic that sometimes forces pitchers to hold their delivery and has resulted in pitch-clock violations against them on occasion.<\/p>\n

By rule, Caballero has to make eye contact with the pitcher when there are 8 seconds left on the timer. He was called for this violation with 9 seconds to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cMajor League Baseball came out with something new, so we have to go change,\u201d manager Aaron Boone said.<\/p>\n

There is a rule that says if a hitter deceives the pitcher it is considered circumventing the aforementioned rule, and the umpire can assess a pitch-clock violation to the batter. There was a call between the league office and the umpiring crew about enforcing this rule prior to the doubleheader, but that didn\u2019t involve the Yankees. It was news to them.<\/p>\n

Asked if he was frustrated that the Yankees weren\u2019t contacted about this ahead of time, Boone replied: \u201cVery, very \u2014 embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says something about deceiving the pitcher, which [to] my understanding is trying to trick the pitcher,\u201d Caballero said. \u201cI\u2019m not trying to trick anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caballero wasn\u2019t in the lineup for Game 2, replaced at shortstop by Anthony Volpe.<\/p>\n

\"NewYankees shortstop Jos\u00e9 Caballero (72) reacts after he is called out on strikes during the sixth inning in Game 1 of a doubleheader Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n

Jose Caballero continued his usual pitch clock antics at the plate today.<\/p>\n

This time the umpires gave him a violation and told the Yankees that MLB called them before the game and changed the rule.<\/p>\n

The interaction was caught on hot mics. <\/p>\n

Read more: https:\/\/t.co\/6qWN8RGOgy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ccY0jxLsRc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott could be heard on mics telling Caballero, \u201cYou don\u2019t get to do the 3 or 4 seconds thing in the box anymore,\u201d after the two engaged in a conversation after the violation was issued. Caballero responded by telling Wolcott, \u201cyou\u2019re picking on me,\u201d multiple times. Hitting coach James Rowson was ejected shortly after Boone came out to defend Caballero.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been warned all season,\u201d crew chief Adrian Johnson told a pool reporter. \u201cWe were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him. That\u2019s what it is. It\u2019s a violation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not allowed anymore. It was the cause of a benches-clearing situation on Monday night<\/a>. Major League Baseball stepped in. They want it enforced.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday, Caballero and Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana exchanged words related to his pre-pitch antics that led to both benches clearing. At the time, Caballero insisted he\u2019s merely taking his time and following his routine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you get frustrated, I\u2019m winning. For me, it\u2019s a battle in the box, and I\u2019m trying to win the battle,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you are not concentrating 100 percent, I think I\u2019m winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

But now, Caballero is going to have to change his routine. He\u2019s not happy about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen other guys do other things and they don\u2019t call anything on them,\u201d Caballero said. \u201cI can name players I\u2019ve seen deceiving the pitchers, but they don\u2019t call it on them. They just call it on me. Like I said, they\u2019re just picking on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NewNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) argues with a umpire after New York Yankees shortstop Jos\u00e9 Caballero (72) is called out on strikes during the sixth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n

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He later added: \u201cThey\u2019re the ones who invented this clock thing. They don\u2019t know what to do with their rule now.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the only call the Yankees objected to. Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was called for a balk as he attempted to tell the umpires the pitch clock wasn\u2019t working. He broke his hands and stepped off at the same time. There was one out at the time, and the balk sent Jake Mangum to second base. Cole was able to get out of the jam.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were not aware the clock went off,\u201d Cole said. \u201cI was startled that it was off. I was tracking the clock and holding the runner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pitch clock caused all kinds of problems Wednesday afternoon for the Yankees.<\/p>\n

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