The Yankees probably thought last Thursday was going to be a peaceful night as Derek Jeter was set to participate in his final home game. They were wrong. Manager Joe Girardi reportedly reamed out the entire locker room prior to their game against the Orioles due to his frustration about missing the playoffs.
According to sources, Girardi called out a number of players for being overweight or not being hungry enough this season, which he believed ultimately led to the team missing the postseason for the second straight season. However, Girardi denied both of those claims. New York was officially eliminated from playoff contention after last Wednesday's loss to Baltimore, which marked the first time since the 1992 and 1993 seasons that they've failed to advance beyond the regular season in consecutive years.
Wallace Matthews and Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York penned an article that includes comments from a number of players who wished to remain anonymous, fearing they would upset their manager. Girardi confirmed the speech took place, but did not provide any details beyond that and described it as a "team meeting." The team finished 84-78 and second in the AL East division, but was smothered by the Baltimore Orioles (96-66) and missed the final Wild Card spot by four games.
"It was a speech the likes of which I've never heard him give before," said one source. "It's something he probably should have said back in spring training."
"I addressed the team just to let them know what I expected of them next year," said Girardi when asked about the details of the incident, via Matthews' and Marchand's article. "I think that obviously there's a lot of disappointment when you don't make the playoffs. And the expectation is, the reason you play the game, is to make the playoffs and win the World Series. We need to get better, and I let them know that."
For a team that was plagued by injuries and significantly distracted by Jeter's farewell tour, the Yankees certainly did not have a bad season. However, the New York Yankee brand is not particularly associated with missing the postseason, which is why Girardi likely felt the need to rip into his players. Eight Yankees confirmed that the incident on Thursday occurred, but most declined to offer more insight regarding the matter.
"I'll tell you what really bothers me, and I'm not blaming you," Girardi said to the reporter who asked him about Thursday night's speech. "It's that you know. It's not right that the meetings you have in the clubhouse get out of the clubhouse."
He's certainly right, but it probably wasn't the best idea to vocally critique his players on the night of Derek Jeter's final game at Yankee Stadium, where it was expected the press coverage would be heavier than usual.