ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis is due back at Fenway Monday night, wearing a Chicago White Sox uniform. It will mark Youkilis's first return to Boston since being traded to Chicago three weeks ago.
Bobby Valentine, with whom Youkilis clashed in the first three months of the season, was asked Sunday if "friction'' between he and Youkilis impacted Youkils's play in Boston.
"I think that's a joke,'' said Valentine, flashing some anger. "Yeah. I wasn't here last year. And there was no friction in spring training. So I think that's a joke. But I'll take all of that.''
Asked if he thought Youkilis had "issues'' with him, Valentine said: "I think that the comment that I made early (in the season about Youkilis not being 'into it'), he made a big issue out of. And I don't think he ever wanted to get over it.''
He wouldn't characterize the nature of his relationship with Youkilis after the comment Valentine made the night before Patriots Day.
"I have no idea,'' said Valentine. "It was whatever he wanted it to be. But like I said, we didn't have a strained relationship in spring training and I wasn't around last year.''
Valentine acknowledged that he was aware in spring training that Youkilis was viewed in a negative light by some teammates. Josh Beckett reportedly confronted Youkilis in spring training and accused him of being a "snitch" about some of the clubhouse problems that came to light last October.
Boston Red Sox
"I was aware of that, yeah,'' said Valentine. "I was a newcomer. I inherited that situation; didn't cause it.''
Valentine added that Youkilis's return to Fenway "should be exciting. I haven't seem him play, but he's gotten a lot of hits. He's played a lot of games. It seems like he's healthier. I'm not surprised (that he's having success). As a matter of fact, (hitting coach Dave Magadan) said that if he went somewhere else, he would play better.
"(Being in new atmosphere) is probably a contributing factor (to his improved play), but I have no idea.''