Valentine fires back at Maddon, Tampa Bay

A day after Tampa Bay Rays coach Joe Maddon called the Boston Red Sox beaning Luke Scott and the ensuing scrum "ridiculous," "absurd," and "idiotic," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine fired back.

Benches cleared Friday after Boston reliever Franklin Morales appeared to intentionally hit Scott. Coaches from both teams became involved in the fracas.

"I thought their coaches were really aggressive," Valentine told reporters. "As a matter of fact, I took offense to the aggressiveness of their coaches. I thought it was very unprofessional and I really was proud of the way my coaches were trying to do what they were supposed to do in those situations. (Tampa's coaches) seemed very immature and out of control."

Valentine did not like Maddon's comments about the Boston coaching staff. Maddon said he thought the Red Sox staff was "cowardly" and ordered a "hit" on Scott.

"Is that how they do it there? When they throw at our guys it comes from the coaches, you mean?" Valentine said. "Oh. I don't know about protocol or how things are done on their side, and I don't think they know how things are done on our side. Whatever."