by ldh2013 » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:36 am
BOSTON - New York manager Joe Girardi held a team meeting before the Yankees final home game this season, telling his players, You need to be better in 2015.A day after the Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention, Girardi called a team meeting on Thursday night to express his disappointment that the team had missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. According to ESPN.com, which first reported details of the meeting, Girardi made the players wait before presenting Derek Jeter with retirement gifts before his last game in pinstripes.Although the website reported Girardi was angry, the manager said he was merely being direct. He also said he wasnt unhappy with the teams conditioning.I told them what I expect for next year, he told reporters on Saturday after the Red Sox beat the Yankees 10-4 in Jeters second-to-last major-league game. Were all disappointed we didnt make the playoffs.New York (83-78) missed consecutive postseasons for the first time since 1992 and 93 and will finish with declining wins totals in three straight years for the first time since 1986-90. The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009.Girardi said he waited until after the team was eliminated from post-season contention to have the meeting, and instead of doing it on Wednesday night he did it before the following game. But that soured the festive mood for Jeters celebration.I just felt the timing was right to do it, Girardi said.Girardi said he told the team: You need to be better. You need to execute better next year. Thats what baseball comes down to, execution.I just let them know what we expect for next year, Girardi said. None of us is happy were not playing next week. Brooklyn, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Nikola Pekovic made the go-ahead layup with 48.6 seconds remaining as the Minnesota Timberwolves scored nine unanswered points to end the game and beat the Brooklyn Nets 98-91 on Wednesday night. Pekovic was fouled by Brook Lopez pivoting for the go-ahead bucket and made the free throw to give the Timberwolves a 94-91 lead. They went inside to the big boy, said Nets coach Lionel Hollins. You have to give him credit. He scored a couple of big buckets for them. Thaddeus Young added a floater and Kevin Martin made two foul shots for the last of his game-high 26 points, ending Minnesotas 9-0 flurry. Ricky Rubio started the run with a tying layup and finished with 14 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves. Pekovic added 16 points and 11 rebounds and rookie Andrew Wiggins scored 17, an early career high. Joe Johnson had 22 points and Deron Williams scored 19 for the Nets, who lost for just the fifth time in their last 29 home games. Brooklyn started a foour-game homestand with a 116-85 win over injury-riddled Oklahoma City on Monday, but trailed by as many as 15 in this one after the Timberwolves opened the game on a 17-2 run.dddddddddddd The spurt began with one bucket each from Minnesotas five starters. Brooklyn responded with a 17-4 burst and was within 24-21 at the buzzer. The Nets had a five-point lead late in the second quarter and led by one, 48-47, at halftime behind 12 points from Williams. Wiggins scored eight of his 17 points in the third quarter, helping Minnesota build a 72-66 lead going into the fourth. Jarrett Jack got eight of his 14 points for the Nets in the last quarter, including four during a 14-4 run that turned a four-point deficit into a six- point lead with under five minutes remaining. Game Notes Young and Lopez scored 10 points each ... The Nets play the city rival Knicks on Friday ... The Timberwolves continue a three-game road trip Friday in Orlando. ' ' '
