Valentine already tweaking the Yankees

[February 29, 2012]  FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Bobby Valentine has only been wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform for about two weeks. That isn't stopping him from taking a few jabs at the archrival New York Yankees in pinstripes already.

Valentine grinned a little on Tuesday when he recalled how retired Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek "beat up" Yankees star Alex Rodriguez during a confrontation in 2004.

He also called into question the claim that Derek Jeter practiced his famed flip-to-home relay that nailed Jeremy Giambi at the plate in Game 3 of the ALDS in 2001.

On Jeter's clutch play, Valentine says he believes the initial throw from the outfield would have got Giambi without the flip. And on the Yankees saying Jeter practiced it, Valentine said "I don't believe it."

[Associated Press; By JON KRAWCZYNSKI]

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