Girardi's Rant Was An Effort To Protect Family

Joe Girardi's rant directed at a fan was in an effort to protect his wife and kids on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

The incident came after the Yankees were swept by the White Sox. The unruly fan was shouting as he left the ballpark.

"My wife and kids were in there," Girardi said. "Other kids were there. And our families shouldn't be subject to that. It's not right. It's terrible."

As Girardi began his postgame news conference in a tunnel outside the Yankee clubhouse, the fan began shouting, "Girardi, you're a bum!'' and "Yankees suck!'' as he left the ballpark.

The normally even-tempered Girardi broke out of the pack to shout at the man -- "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Shut up! I'm doing an interview!'' -- before asking a stadium security guard to "do something, would you? Shut this guy up."