AL WILDCARD GAME: RED SOX VS YANKEES

October 5, 2021

Brett Gardner

Fenway Park

New York Yankees

Postgame Press Conference

Red Sox 6, Yankees 2

Q. Aaron Boone just described the end of the season as cruel. Just how would you describe the end of the season and how you're feeling right now?

BRETT GARDNER: Yeah, I mean, it is cruel. It's a tough game and obviously there's 28 other teams that are going to end the season the way we did. Some maybe with not as high of hopes and expectations. But end of the season, there's only one team that goes home happy and obviously that's not going to be us.

So you know, I'm obviously disappointed, upset, frustrated, all of the above. You know, all the work that we have put in over the last eight or ten months, and you know, for me, the last several years obviously.

You know, to be at this point and not see it through and obviously end the season on a disappointing note, unfortunately, I've fell short too many times and too often. It's a tough game and it's a hard game. Obviously we are playing against a tough opponent in a tough atmosphere that was, you know, electric and obviously what we play for. It's not something that necessarily was tough to do.

But playing here in Fenway, obviously we knew what we were up against and, like I said, our chances coming in. And at the end of the day, we just got beat. Obviously they got off to an early lead and they threw the ball really, really well. I think Eovaldi threw the ball well. And then the guys that they brought in behind him did a good job of staying in the zone and throwing strikes and getting ahead of our hitters. We weren't able to get a whole lot going against them.

Just a disappointing game. Obviously a disappointing finish to the season and like I said, it's just another reminder how difficult this game is and how tough it can be.

Q. Understanding it just ended, but do you think you've played your last game as a Yankee?

BRETT GARDNER: I hope not. I hope not. You know, I hope that I'm back next season, but obviously that's really not really on my radar right now. Just kind of trying to process all that went on in this season that we just finished. And, you know, obviously not just myself and how I'm feeling, but that group of guys in that room and the disappointment that we are all feeling right now.

You know, I understand you have to ask me about next year, and right now if I had to answer, I hope that I'm back in that room and I hope that I'm in Tampa come February. But there's obviously a long time between now and then and a lot of things that need to get figured out. We'll see what happens.

Q. Following up on that, you're still wearing your uniform. It's an hour after the game. Is there a reason for that? Maybe you're reluctant to take it off?

BRETT GARDNER: Yeah, I mean, you know, I think every year when the season ends, I have taken my cleats off already, so I'm halfway there. But, yeah, I mean, just I'm not going to wear a helmet sleeping tonight. I'll take it off when I walk out of here. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. Obviously you don't know how many chances you'll get to put the uniform on again and go out there and do what we do. Just feels good to still have it on.

Q. When you consider what you need to do this off-season, who are you going to turn to? Who are you going to lean upon to try to make that decision about playing next year?

BRETT GARDNER: Well, most importantly, my wife, my kids, my family. You know, they have obviously sacrificed. This game has been great to me and great to my family, but the longer you play and the older your kids get, the hardest it gets and the more things I miss out on and not being able to see them back home doing their thing. And obviously makes it harder to be together all the time and things like that.

So you know, I'll obviously have some real serious conversations with her and my kids and, you know my dad, my parents. I'm fortunate to have a great family and always have had all of their support. We'll see. We'll see the next few weeks, the next few months, where that takes us.

Physically I feel healthy and I feel strong and feel like I can continue to play this game at a high level. Obviously this season did not end the way we wanted it to, for myself or the team, but I do still feel like I have a lot to give, you know. But right now, not as worried about next year and what the future holds as I am just trying to process this and be with my teammates, be with my brothers and try and lick our wounds a little bit.

Q. We were talking to Aaron Boone about his contract situation. Since you're the longest-tenured Yankee, what will it mean next year if he comes back?

BRETT GARDNER: He's been great. Since day one, coming over to the Yankees and just being in control of that room and really taking care of me as a veteran player and always being honest with me and communicating with me and just keeping his door open all the time and that line of communication open. Very thankful for the things that he's taught me and the things that I've learned from him and the way that he's treated me and the rest of my teammates.

Just thankful for his dedication and time. Again, you're talking about a man with a family and several young kids and this is a really, really hard game, and it's the hardest schedule that we have to deal with for eight or nine months straight. You guys know that. The sacrifices that not just him but the rest of that coaching staff has made and the things they have done for me, not just Boonie, but whether it be Reggie Willis with baserunning stuff and outfield stuff or Marcus and PJ in the cage.

And going through hundreds and hundreds of hours of video trying to help me make one or two adjustments with the height of my hands in the middle of the season, things like that. I'm very appreciative for all they have done, not just me, but my teammates over the course of the season and the past. They have been great.

As you said, a lot of uncertain, unchartered waters with this team heading into the off-season. But even sitting here right now, I love that coaching staff, I love that group of players in that room, and I still believe in them even though the season is over. We'll see what the off-season holds and hopefully we'll have a chance to run it back.

Q. Given how you guys played down the stretch, to come out and have this type of game, especially from Gerrit Cole, your ace, how surprising was that?

BRETT GARDNER: Well, I mean, nothing -- I guess I've been playing this game long enough to know that you really shouldn't be surprised by anything anymore. I mean, we're playing obviously a really, really good team, a team that, you know, we've played, what, 20 times now over the course of the season. And obviously they have faced Gerrit quite a bit and they were able to get to him early. I thought he threw the ball pretty well, a couple bad pitches that they really just didn't miss. And in a game like this, sometimes that's the difference.

You know, obviously I wasn't my best tonight. Gerrit probably would have told you he wasn't his best, but the work that he puts in and the way he prepares, there's nobody else I'd rather want on the mound in a must-win game. It didn't go his way tonight or our way, but all the guys in the room, their work and their preparation and dedication, we have obviously kind of been up against a wall here for the last couple weeks, playing must-win games it seems like.

It only been one game but there were times over the course of the season where we were down, and a lot of people counted us out and we could have rolled over and quit and we didn't, that group of guys. We kept pushing and fighting and I am proud of that.

Q. A few years ago after you lost, you said this is the time of year good teams get sent home and great teams move on. What's kept you guys from that latter category the last handful of years?

BRETT GARDNER: That's a good question. But, yeah, it is that time of year and like I said, there's only one team that goes home happy at this time of year and obviously it's not going to be us.

I think everybody kind of wants to know the answer to that. I think the first answer I have is obviously we are playing against really good teams, and doesn't matter whether you're talking about the Red Sox or the Rays or the Astros a few years before that. There's a lot of good teams out there, not just in the American League but the National League.

It's harder now than it's ever been to make it to the World Series and to win the World Series. I think obviously the work that we put in over the course of the season, at the end of the day, it wasn't quite enough. And we all collectively from the top all the way down to the bottom, we need to obviously take these next few days, next few weeks, next several months and continue to look ourselves in the mirror and re-evaluate and get better and find ways to continue to push each other and try and get this team over the hump.

Obviously this is not the way we wanted to end the season and, you know, I think being here at Fenway, seeing them celebrate and getting knocked out at Fenway will add a little fuel to the fire in the off-season when guys are working hard behind the scenes and will lead to better results next season.

Q. You were part of a World Series at the beginning of your career. Does it get more frustrating every year when you don't win it?

BRETT GARDNER: It does. It does. My first year as a young player in 2009 getting to go to the World Series and experience that, as a young player, you don't know how long you're going to be around. You don't know that you're going to be here for 14 years and you kind of I don't want to say take it for granted. But back then the team that we had in 2009 and going into 2010, obviously with the expectations we have for ourselves and the expectations our fans have for us and our owner and our GM, you think you're going to go there every year.

You know, each year that goes by that we don't make it, that is obviously a little tougher. You just don't know how many more opportunities you're going to get. Again, I thought we had a really, really good team. We obviously dealt with a lot of adversity this year and came up short of our ultimate goal, but we do have what it takes in that room to not just be better but to win it all. Obviously, you know, coming up short like we did is disappointing.

Q. Do you have a handle on what you think needs to change? If the answers are in the room but the rest of the league is getting stronger, what needs to change to get the Yankees where you want to be?

BRETT GARDNER: Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, it's not a question that I necessarily have the answer for. I think if it was something that was obvious or that I knew, I think we would have put a stop to it or made an adjustment, whether it be in May or July or August. That would have maybe kind of been a turning point.

I can't put my finger on it exactly. I understand the question. You know, obviously as one of the guys that's in that room and being here as long as I have, you know, if I don't necessarily know the exact answer, I'm not sure. I'm not sure who does. You know, I do think that -- again, I think it's a time to take these days and weeks and these next few months and continue to look ourselves in the mirror and find a way to get better, each and every one of us. And obviously collectively that makes the team better in return.

So just continue to push each other, continue to feed each other, feed off of each other. I think we have got a great group of guys in that room that will make this team, make this Yankees, serious contenders not just next year but moving forward. We'll see.