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Starting pitcher Will Warren had high praise for utility player Jose Caballero.
The New York Yankees‘ acquisition of Jose Caballero was curious to fans and even some of their players.
Yet, Caballero is making his impact felt, especially in the Yankees clubhouse, as a player the team loves having on his roster.
Starting pitcher Will Warren flatteringly referred to Caballero as “a pest,” since he has found a way to do all the little things help the Yankees win when he is in the lineup and annoy opponents.
Caballero leads the majors in stolen bases (39) and is slashing .333/.400/.389 in 10 games since the Yankees acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays mid-game on July 31. His five stolen bases put him tied for sixth on New York’s roster.
The Yankees are 7-3 in games Caballero plays, including each of their three wins over the weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Why Is Jose Caballero ‘A Pest?’
Caballero plays the game hard, and at 5-10 and 190 pounds, he is committed to having an impact on games bigger than his stature. He wears Warren’s assessment as a badge of pride, since he loves getting under opponents’ skin.
“It makes me feel really good because that’s what I’m trying to do,” Caballero told NJ.com. “I’m trying to make them hate me. I don’t want them to like me. I’m just trying to mess with them.
Caballero realizes his value in stealing bases, playing solid defense and putting pressure on the opponents. This was manifested when he sped down the line on a little dribbler in the ninth inning Sunday, forcing Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese to throw errantly for an E4.
That play led to a four-run frame in what was New York’s 8-4 win that capped a sweep.
“I don’t want them to have the full attention on what they’re doing and rather a little more attention on me to try to hate me,” Caballero said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has seen both sides of the Caballero hate train. Yankees fans certainly will remember when Gerrit Cole waggled his finger at Caballero after striking him out — when the then-Seattle Mariners infielder brought up Cole potentially violating the pitch clock.
“I’ve yelled at him when he was an opponent,” Boone said Sunday. “He knows that. I couldn’t stand him playing against him and now he’s turning into one of my favorite players.”
What Did The Yankees Say About Having Jose Caballero As A Teammate?
At this point, the Yankees are almost in lockstep in their assessment of Caballero.
“He’s a baseball player, man, and to me that’s the biggest compliment you can give someone,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “That guy is a ballplayer.”
“I told him I hated playing against him because you can see his speed,” Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. “He’s made a difference. He’ll come off the bench and steal bags and he can play shortstop and play outfield. He’s a really valuable asset for us and can do it in so many different ways.”
Boone echoed Goldschmidt’s appreciation for Caballero’s ability to play all over the diamond.
“I don’t know about old school, new school, now school,” Boone said. “He’s a good player. I like good players.
“To be able to defend the way he does at a number of positions … He provides something offensively. There’s some patience up there at the plate. He can play the short game and he’s obviously really electric on the bases.”
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
