'You're picking on me': Yankees' Jose Caballero chafes at pitch clock violation after MLB reportedly instructs umps to crack down on gamesmanship - Yahoo Sports

What the report says

Yahoo Sports reported that New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero objected Wednesday after being assessed an automatic strike for a pitch-clock-related violation during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The call came in the sixth inning while Caballero was facing Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski with an 0-1 count. Audio from the exchange captured Caballero telling plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, “You’re picking on me,” after Wolcott indicated Caballero could no longer wait until only a few seconds remained before entering the batter’s box.

According to Yahoo, crew chief Adrian Johnson told pool reporter Brendan Kuty of The Athletic that umpires had been directed not to issue Caballero another warning and instead to call a violation. Johnson said Caballero had already been warned throughout the season. Yankees hitting coach James Rowson was ejected during the argument, and after the delay Caballero struck out to end the inning. Pittsburgh went on to win, 5-3.

Caballero criticized the handling of the situation after the game, saying through NorthJersey.com that he had not been told of a rule-enforcement change before the game and maintained he was not trying to mislead anyone. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also faulted the league’s response, according to the Yahoo account.

The dispute followed a benches-clearing incident in the previous Yankees-Pirates game involving Pirates reliever Dennis Santana and Caballero. Yahoo noted that the Yankees view Caballero’s timing tactics as within the rules, while MLB has reportedly pointed to pace-of-game language barring batter conduct meant to induce pitchers into illegal starts or set positions.