Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made headlines earlier this week when he criticized Derek Jeter’s famous “flip play” in the 2001 ALDS. And he did so again when he admitted he was incorrect with his assumption that the New York Yankees didn’t practice that play.
Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine watches over a baseball spring training workout Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made headlines earlier this week when he criticized Derek Jeter’s famous “flip play” in the 2001 ALDS. And he did so again when he admitted he was incorrect with his assumption that the New York Yankees didn’t practice that play.
As it turns out, the Yankees actually did practice that play, meaning Jeter wasn’t out of position, as Valentine suggested.
Bobby Valentine is in his first spring training as manager of the Red Sox. (AP Photo)
“Total mistake on my part, because they do practice it, that’s for sure,” Valentine told reporters, according to The Boston Globe. “It’s hard to practice that, because why are we going to practice a bad throw? That’s not what we’re doing here. But I get it. I get it.”
Valentine then made it clear that his critical comments about the play were in no way aimed at Jeter.
“I want it on record that I love Derek Jeter as a player,” Valentine said. “It was not a slight toward him.”
When asked about Valentine’s comments Wednesday, Jeter was surprised that a play from more than a decade ago somehow was relevant again.
“What do you want me to say?” Jeter told reporters in Yankees camp. “I mean, really. What am I supposed to say? I don’t think anything. I really don’t. I have no thoughts whatsoever about that. Why are we talking about this? He must be bored over there, huh? I don’t understand.”
Jeter reiterated that the Yankees did practice the play.