Video summary
Jose Caballero opens his interview by addressing a minor physical concern, quickly dismissing any notion of injury to focus on the team's recent offensive success. He expresses particular satisfaction with Ben Rice's performance at the plate, highlighting how Rice managed to deliver a crucial hit in the top of an inning following a difficult ninth inning for the team. Caballero emphasizes that seeing his teammates succeed is always a positive outcome, especially when it helps shift momentum and puts the team in a stronger position to win games.
The conversation then shifts to the strategic importance of speed against tough pitchers like CC Sabathia, specifically focusing on Caballero's ability to steal bases to manufacture runs. When asked about his successful third-base steal during the game, Caballero explains that he always looks for any opportunity to help his team in whatever way possible. He notes that taking extra bases off a pitcher forces the defense to play deeper, making it easier for teammates behind him to drive in runs and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Caballero also discusses the specific approach required when facing a high-velocity pitcher like CC, who had thrown 100 pitches by the time he left the game. He credits his teammate Jersey for managing the count effectively until the pitcher was exhausted and left a pitch up in the zone, which allowed Caballero to take advantage of the situation. He acknowledges the difficulty of facing elite arms but points out that utilizing the bullpen becomes a viable strategy once a starter has reached their limit, allowing the team to maintain momentum against formidable pitching.
Finally, the interview touches on a moment where Caballero admitted to making a mistake by attempting to advance to second base too late in a rundown situation. He candidly shares his internal thought process at the time, explaining that he hoped to stay between bases long enough to generate an extra run for the team. Although he tried his best to execute the play, the attempt ultimately did not work out as planned, serving as a learning moment about timing and decision-making in high-pressure defensive scenarios.
Read the full video transcript
You walking with a little limp there?
>> No, I'm good.
>> What do you think of the the swing at a
Ben Rice especially considering the way
he's been kind of going through it a
little bit at the plate?
>> Oh, it was great. It was great to see
him succeed in
delivering that
top of the thing especially
after
what happened in the ninth and um
just put us on top and it is it's good
to to see him
succeed.
>> You guys were obviously facing CC this
afternoon. Knowing how tough he can be,
you look at that third inning your
ability to third base to steal third
base there. How much is that in your
mind that you got to find a way to to
manufacture a run?
>> Like I always say, I always try to
to help my team in any way possible and
to
see any opportunity that is out there to
take advantage of and I was able to to
take third base on
on him and
make it easier for for my team in behind
and
he could drive in.
>> He exited the game before you stepped to
the plate there in that seventh inning.
Just take me through your approach there
knowing the speed that Lombard has.
>> Uh
he's great, you know. I just needed to
to
um
to work some some counts and Jersey did
pretty good job and
good um
um
take advantage of the pitch count
whenever he was always all the way to
100 pitches and he leave a pitch up
there and he could deliver and and took
him out of the game because
we all know how tough it is and
uh it's always good to to to see the
bullpen whenever you're facing a good
[music] arm like CC's.
Well,
I already
uh
messed it up. I think I decided to go to
second a little late. So,
in my head I was like, all right, let me
just stay in the rundown. Maybe I can
get a an extra run out of out of it and
um
that was the plan after I got caught in
between and
I tried my best and
almost worked out but it didn't.