SEATTLE -- A defiant Bobby Valentine, hours after a contentious interivew on WEEI Wednesday, took issue with any suggestion that he "checked out'' on the season and insisted he had a good reason for arriving at the Oakland Coliseum less than three hours before gametime last Friday.
"If anyone in this room or any other room I've ever been in in my life wants to question my integrity,'' said Valentine, "I will ask someone to referee that situation.''
Valentine told WEEI host Glenn Ordway that he would like to "punch him in the mouth'' for asking whether the manager had "checked out,'' but maintained that he was doing so jokingly.
"(It's) entertainment,'' said Valentine. "Didn't I go 'ha-ha?' I don't think physical violence is necessary for 60-year-old people. I think it made the point, that there are lines that should be drawn in the sand when someone's trying to be professional and sounding unprofessional. Sometimes, it's better to be abrupt and then let everyone know (you're) kidding.''
Ordway had cited multiple reports that Valentine had arrived at the Coliseum after 4 p.m. Valentine was late because he had gone to pick up his son at San Francisco International Airport and the flight was delayed. Valentine then made a stop back at the team's hotel in San Francisco before traveling across the Bay Bridge to the Coliseum in Oakland.
Traffic and an accident on the highway leading to the Coliseum further delayed his arrival.
"When you talk about someone's family,'' said Valentine, "and you talk about someone's integrity, you draw the line of what should be done in the workplace. That's where I draw the line. And if on that radio show, I falsely accused anyone of being either unprofessional or disregarding the truth or the facts of the matter, my total apologies are out there. I did not mean to offend anyone.''
Valentine emphasized that he had already forwarded his lineup for Friday's game to the coaching staff -- as is his custom -- and had checked in by phone with the training staff to determine player availabilty.
"(I) got the stadium a little later than normal,'' said Valentine. "To see my son for a couple hours more, I think is more than worth the tradeoff of sitting around in my underwear in the clubhouse for two hours.''
He then recounted his schedule since being hired last December, noting that he'd had "two off-days that I've taken for myself,'' and adding he was dedicated to his job "every day, all day.''
Valentine also took issue with reports that highlighted his rambling at times non-sensical answer when asked about hitting Scott Podsednik third the day after Valentine's arrival was delayed.
"If I say I must have made a mistake by batting Podsednik third,'' said Valentine, "why wouldn't you say: 'What do you mean by that?' C'mon. I don't make mistakes putting out the lineup. The guy's hitting .345 and I'm going hit him at the top of the lineup. And there's two other guys who are going to hit at the top of the lineup; he's one of them. Just ask me the question.''
During the original radio interview, Valentine noted that he was often "miserable'' during his first season managing the Red Sox. Later, meeting with reporters, he softened his language only somewhat.
"It's been very trying,'' he said of the experience. "There's been a lot of obstacles in my way. I think I've jumped them and sometimes I've been knocked down by them. Just doing as good as I can do... all day long.''