Derek Jeter’s flip-play in the 2001 ALDS. (AP)
Alex Rodriguez, left, is pushed by Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek in 2004. (AP)
FIGHTING WORDS: New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine wasted no time lighting a fire in the rivalry with the Yankees, taking shots at Derek Jeter’s famous flip in the 2001 Division Series vs. the A’s, and Alex Rodriguez, who was involved in a tussle with Boston catcher Jason Varitek in 2004. (Kyodo /Landov)
One day after bringing Prohibition back to the Red Sox clubhouse, new Boston manager Bobby Valentine caused another stir yesterday when he decided he would take on the Yankees, a team he already has said he hates.
In a span of a few minutes, the chatty Valentine — brand new to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry but clearly looking to put his stamp on it as fast as possible — questioned Derek Jeter’s signature flip play in the 2001 playoffs and remarked how retiring Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek “beat up” Alex Rodriguez during their 2004 confrontation at Fenway Park.
Valentine’s new team had just finished working on relay throws at its spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., when Valentine — whose next “no comment” may be his first — was asked about Jeter’s play in Game 3 of the 2001 playoffs against the Athletics.
Down 2-0 in the series and with a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning, Yankees right fielder Shane Spencer missed the cutoff man on a double by Terrence Long. Jeter came streaking from his shortstop position to grab the overthrow near the first-base line and, from foul territory, flipped the ball to Jorge Posada to get Jeremy Giambi at the plate. The Yankees won the game and eventually the series.
“We’ll never practice that,” Valentine told the media. “And I think [Jeter] was out of position, and I think the ball gets [Giambi] out if he doesn’t touch it, personally.”
In the ensuing years, several Yankees players have said Jeter had practiced that play in spring training, a notion that was too much for Valentine to stomach.
“That was amazing that he was there,” the former Mets manager said. “Then it was more amazing to say they practiced it. I don’t believe it.’’
But Joe Torre, then the Yankees manager, said that night in Oakland that Jeter had practiced the play.
“You come to spring training and watch us,” Torre said at the time. “That’s one of the plays he has to read. He’s the backup cutoff man.”
Rob Thomson, the Yankees’ current third base coach and a member of the organization since 1990, said the play has been a part of spring training since he joined the organization.
“I’m not sure who brought it to the organization,” Thomson said last night by phone. “But since [Yankees senior vice president] Mark Newman has been running the minor leagues, that’s the way we run the double cut. In fact we’re going to be doing it [today].
“That’s where [Jeter’s] supposed to be.”
As for the Rodriguez-Varitek showdown, when the Boston catcher shoved his glove into Rodriguez’s face after A-Rod took a few steps toward the mound following a too-close pitch from Bronson Arroyo, Valentine called Varitek a “man’s man.’’ Varitek is expected to announce his retirement tomorrow.
“He was a big hitter when needed,” Valentine said. “He was a leader of the pitching staff. He was able to beat up Alex. All that stuff is good stuff. He was exactly what he was supposed to be.”
The rivalry resumes — now with a little added, but unnecessary spice — March 13 with an exhibition game in Tampa. The first regular-season meeting between the teams is scheduled for April 20 at Fenway Park.
Bobby V, who probably will have much more to say about the Yankees in the interim, and the Red Sox don’t come to The Bronx until July 27.
Additional reporting by George A. King III
dburke@nypost.com