Yankees Player Says Fans’ Boos Hurt Team in ALCS

Many Yankees fans turned on the team, during their offensive slump this postseason. The club heard many boos during two home games in the ALCS, as they failed to score in 20 out of 21 innings.

After New York was swept by the Detroit Tigers, one player said the fans played a big role in the team’s inability to win a game in the series.

“I really think the booing spooked a lot of guy,” the anonymous player told John Harper of the New York Daily News. “A lot of guys hadn’t been booed before, and they couldn’t believe how nasty it got in the stands. A lot of guys were talking about it in the clubhouse. I was surprised by how much it bothered them. I really don’t think they ever recovered.”

The Yankees left the Bronx down 2-0, and were booed heavily in their final home game of 2012. In the team’s final game Yankee Stadium, Nick Swisher ignored the fans in right field, and admitted that he was hurt by fans’ actions.

“It hurts,” he said. “Sometimes I’m a sensitive guy. Some of the things people say, they get under your skin a little bit.” Swisher is a free agent and might not return to club, in part, because of his deteriorating relationship with the fans.

Alex Rodriguez may have been booed more than anyone else. He went 3-for-25 with 12 strikeouts in the playoffs.

The fans booed the players, largely, because of their inability to get anything going on offense. New York made history, hitting just .188 in the postseason.