TAMPA — The words came from deep within Derek Jeter’s body and exited loud enough that had Bobby Valentine been listening 120 miles south the Red Sox manager could have heard them.
As Jeter crossed the first-base line in a cutoff drill yesterday morning he roared, “See, we work on it!’’
Earlier inside the Yankees clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Jeter was grilled about Valentine saying a day earler he didn’t believe Jeter when he said the Yankees practice the play that led to “The Flip’’ in the 2001 ALDS Game 3 against the A’s, a game the Yankees won, 1-0 to keep them alive. Jeter’s flip from between first base and the plate to catcher Jorge Posada after Shane Spencer overthrew two cutoff men caught Jeremy Giambi.
Jeter was matter-of-fact answering questions in the clubhouse, but his loud voice later that morning was easily heard in the stands was a clear indication he was charged up over the developments.
“I am indifferent, we do practice it,’’ said Jeter, who with the other infielders practiced the exact double cutoff drill later in the morning. The drill was scheduled before Valentine spoke on Tuesday. “I was where I was supposed to be. I don’t know Bobby well enough to know what he is doing. I could care less.’’
Asked if he thought Valentine was attempting to stir the pot in sports biggest rivalry, Jeter stayed neutral.
“I don’t know. I don’t know why you would have to stir it up,’’ Jeter said. “I am not saying he is stirring it up. I don’t think it’s a big deal.’’
When told of Jeter’s response, Valentine clapped his hands enthusiastically three times and said, “I need to get responses from the other team. I need to get a response from my team. That’s good.”
In Fort Myers, Valentine offered a half-hearted mea culpa, saying he was told by Boston bullpen coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck, who has had three stints with the Yankees, that the Yankees do practice the Jeter play.
“Total mistake on my part that they don’t practice it, that’s for sure. He [Tuck] said that when they practice it, he always got there late in practice,” Valentine said. “I said [Tuesday] that the shortstop’s there being aware. But 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.”
A few minutes after discussing the matter in a scrum of media members, Valentine made it a point to clarify his respect for Jeter.
“I want it on record that I love Derek Jeter as a player,” Valentine told ESPN.com. “It was not a slight towards him. I love him as a guy, too.”
Former Red Sox manager and current ESPN broadcaster Terry Francona took the opportunity to praise Jeter for the play.
“I am sure some of that was in jest,’’ Francona said about Valentine’s remark about Jeter and Jason Varitek being remembered for beating up Alex Rodriguez in 2004. “I wasn’t there and I am out of it. To me it’s not important if the Yankees practice it or not. The fact of the matter is that [Jeter] is good enough to make that play. He is the only one who can make that play. He sees the field better than anyone in baseball.’’
Joe Girardi refused to get into a back-and-forth with Valentine.
“The rivalry has been great and it’s usually not what is said, usually it’s the games on the field,’’ Girardi said. “My thought is that you worry about what goes on on the field. I am not sure why he made the comments. I didn’t ask him and I probably won’t ask him.’’
As for Valentine’s comment about Varitek handling Rodriguez during a Fenway Park brawl in 2004, Rodriguez shut up.
“I haven’t heard the comments and I am not going to win many battles with words, especially when it comes to Bobby,’’ Rodriguez said. “I have a new public relations [guy] coming in a couple of days: Reggie Jackson. Let him handle it.’’
Girardi downplayed those comments, too.
“I am not looking to judge people,’’ Girardi said. “He made the comments.’’
Girardi enjoys the rivalry and understood when Valentine was hired he would fan the flames. Yet Girardi maintains the deal is on the field.
“The bottom line is what happens on the field. It’s not going to be something I say or he says,’’ Girardi explained. “The fans want to see wins, that’s the bottom line.’’
With wire reports
george.king@nypost.com