Major League Baseball

Bobby V takes swipe at Yankees

Published Mar. 23, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Bobby Valentine warmed up for a season in which he is expected to stoke the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry by hitting out at Joe Girardi after a Spring Training exhibition game that ended in a 4-4 tie.

The Boston manager was angered that his Yankees counterpart called time Thursday night, with Girardi claiming his team had no pitching left to continue after the Sox tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a successful suicide squeeze.

"They had plenty of pitching," Valentine said. "Probably too long of a [bus] ride. They could have known that going in."

Girardi said he needed to save his pitching because the Yankees play split-squad games Friday, the New York Post reported.

But Valentine was upset that he got Clayton Mortensen up to pitch the 10th inning before learning that the game was over.

"I don't think that was very courteous," he said. "Why do I have to warm up my pitcher, who's trying to make a team come in in a tie game against the Yankees and maybe help him make a team, and instead he has to walk off the mound and take a shower?" Valentine said.

Valentine, who kicked off his new role by declaring his hatred of the Yankees, said he was more irked about the way it was handled by Girardi.

"Usually, you go over and say, 'I don't have any more. I have 10.' I don't know," he said. "I haven't been around in a long time. Joe knows better than I. I guess you just walk off the field ... I don't set protocol. I'm learning. I'm sure [Girardi] didn't do anything deliberate. It's just, I have to answer to a pitcher who is trying to make the team."