KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jose Caballero’s full range of on-field idiosyncrasies were on display Monday afternoon, taking the Yankees on another crazy ride.
Forget where your helmet is, costing an automatic strike?
Drive in a run during the same at-bat?
Tap into a critical double play?
Make a beautiful defensive play, at third base, to seal a late, 4-3 win against the Royals?
“Cabby and I have a love-hate,’’ manager Aaron Boone said with a smile. “He’ll drive you nuts sometimes, and then you want to give him a hug.’’
Monday ended as a “give-him-a-hug’’ day, though it began awkwardly enough.
Coming to bat for the first time in Monday’s second inning, Caballero was delayed getting to the batter’s box.
“Where’s Cabby’s helmet?’’ was the cry on the bench.
“I couldn’t find it,’’ said Caballero, who located it on the third base side of the dugout.
Late to the batter’s box, “I got myself a strike’’ by plate ump Clint Vondrak, applying the automated pitch clock violation.
“Not much I can do at that point. If I start thinking about that, I’m going to make that at-bat harder than it is,’’ said Caballero, adding that “it’s not like the first time’’ he’s started 0-and-1 in at-bat.
Caballero delivered a two-out, RBI single off Michael Wacha for a 2-0 lead, after Cody Bellinger homered earlier in the frame.
“He’s our Cabby,’’ Boone said, as if reciting a sitcom line.
“I love that guy, man,’’ Caballero said of his manager. “He knows me. I’m wild. That’s just me.’’
Caballero can test the patience of the Yankees – and all of MLB – with his machinations regarding the pitch clock, delaying in engaging pitchers, as he did in Monday’s second at-bat.
There are some wacky arguments and occasional odd misplays, mixed in with the pedal-to-the-floor baserunning, sharp at-bats and improved defense – especially with his recent play at short.
Caballero started at third base Monday, and it was “just like riding a bike,’’ with Anthony Volpe starting at shortstop.
“I just trust Josie so much on the baseball field,’’ said Boone. “You want it hit to him when it matters, you want him on the bases, and in the box, when it matters.
“You know he wants those things and plays the game with such confidence.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How Yankees’ Jose Caballero tests Aaron Boone’s limits