New York Yankees utilityman José Caballero is navigating a period of adjustment as Major League Baseball enforces new interpretations of its pitch clock rules. The league has begun cracking down on batter tactics deemed to deceive pitchers, a move that has directly impacted Caballero's established routine in the batter's box.
Caballero stated Friday that he is not angry about the situation but is seeking clarity on what he can and cannot do. "I just want to be a baseball player," he said. The pitch clock rules stipulate that a batter must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the time eight seconds remain on the clock. Caballero has consistently met this requirement, but a recent adjustment in how his actions are perceived has led to pitch-clock violations.
The league's new directive, implemented around Wednesday, restricts hitters from attempting to "deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position." Caballero views his pre-eight-second routine, which involves looking down until the last possible moment, not as deception but as part of his process. He was still attempting to establish a new routine during Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Caballero had a brief conversation with MLB's senior vice president of on-field operations, Mike Hill, earlier in the week, but he found the discussion unsatisfactory. "We ain’t figuring this out," Caballero said. "They say what they had to say. They’re the league, they control [things]. I just have to obey."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed he has had multiple discussions with MLB about the issue throughout the season. Boone indicated that, as of Friday, the team needed to be "OK with where things stood" and would comply with the rule adjustments. However, he questioned the necessity of Caballero altering a routine that involved being in the box and alert with time to spare. "Every hitter is the only one that does something," Boone remarked, suggesting that individual player routines are common.
Despite the disruption, Boone expressed confidence in Caballero's ability to adapt. "He’s a killer. He knows how to play and he’ll do what he needs to do to adjust," Boone said.
The focus on Caballero's routine comes as the Yankees' offense has experienced inconsistency. Over his last 25 games entering Friday, Caballero was hitting .193 with a .549 OPS. Boone acknowledged that the team's offense as a whole has struggled recently, with players capable of performing at a higher level. "We all need to get going a little bit more," he stated.