After whiffing on 3 consecutive pitches Friday, Snakes C Miguel Montero was displeased with the K-Rodesque histrionics of Tigers closer Jose Valverde, to which the latter replied, “œtell Montero he™s a freaking rookie and I can do whatever I want to.” From the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro :

“If he wants to do something,” Valverde (above) said, “tell him to come to my locker and let me know.”

œI never liked Montero, he continued. œHe™s a (bleeping) piece of (bleep).

œTell Montero he has two years (in the majors) and I have eight.”

Told of Valverde™s comments, Montero responded, saying he went out on the field before Saturday™s game to see if Valverde wanted to say something. Valverde walked right past him, Montero said.

œIt doesn™t matter if he™s got eight years, Montero said. œI don™t think he™s got eight years because he got sent down seven or eight times. That really doesn™t count. When you get sent down your major league service stops counting. He got called up in ™02 and he got sent down in ™02 and ™03 and ™04 and ™05 and ™06. I guess this year he was a free agent so that let me know he got six years. In four out of six years he™s given up 100 runs a year. He™s only had two good years in his career. So what? He™s still a (bleep) to me.

A stickler for detail, Piecoro points out Valverde began the 2010 season with 6 1/2 years big league service time, while “rookie” Montero is playing in his 4th season in The Show.