"I wouldn't say there was a lack of hunger" - When Derek Jeter hit back at Yankees owner's message after 2010 World Series failure

The 2009 season was glorious for Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees. They made it all the way to the World Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 to capture their 27th ring.

The following season, the Bronx Bombers once again made it to the postseason but fell short of their ultimate goal. They lost to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS, ending their season, which did not sit right with owner Hank Steinbrenner. He made some comments to reporters that stirred the pot.

Steinbrenner felt his team was too complacent after their World Series win in 2009. However, that was not what Jeter saw, via ESPN's Wallace Matthews.

"We got beat by a team that was better than us in that series, that was the bottom line. I wouldn't say there was a lack of hunger. I just think we didn't play as well. That's why we lost," said Jeter.

Jeter believed that the Rangers were truly the better team in that series. In the end, the Yankees could not stop the force that was Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero and Elvis Andrus, among others.

Derek Jeter did not want to make the Yankees' 2010 postseason exit more of a story than it already was

New York Yankees - Derek Jeter (Photo via IMAGN)

For a team like the Yankees, every season is a chance for them to bring home another World Series title. It does not matter what the team did the previous season, all focus was on how they could be the best team in baseball.

So, when the club had its season end in the ALCS in 2010, there was an uneasy feeling across the organization. Ownership made comments that some players may have had their minds elsewhere and were "too busy building mansions."

This seemed like a direct shot at Derek Jeter, who just moved into a 30,000-square-foot home in Tampa earlier that year. However, the 14-time All-Star shrugged off the comments.

"Owners can say anything they want. They're owners. They're entitled to their opinion. You don't have to necessarily agree with their opinion but they can say what they want to say. I have no problem with it" said Jeter.

Jeter knew he left everything he had on the field, and the comments were made in frustration after the loss. He had no problems with ownership and wanted to put this postseason loss behind him and move forward.