In the aftermath of last night’s ninth-inning scuffle between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine has come out swinging against the role Tampa Bay coaches played in the dispute. Valentine told The Boston Herald:

“I think their coaches were real aggressive,” said Valentine. He also used the phrase “unprofessional.”

Also: “They seemed immature, out of control.”

And: “Coaches are supposed to stop this from happening and their coaches were aggressive, agitating and instigating.”

After Friday’s game, which the Rays won 7-4, Tampa Bay Joe Maddon tweeted outrage over what he saw as an intentional effort to hit Designated Hitter Luke Scott with a pitch, which started the ninth inning scuffle.

Very proud of our effort 2nite. What occurred in the 9th reeked of intent. Was ridiculous, absurd, idiotic, incompetent, cowardly behavior.—
Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) May 26, 2012

The Rays and Red Sox play the second of their three-game series tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays and manager Joe Maddon have agreed on a three-year contract extension, according to a tweet from Marc Topkins of the Tampa Bay Times.

#Rays - Maddon 3-year contract extension is done, announcement expected Wednesday

—
Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 14, 2012

This will mark the seventh year that Maddon has been manager of the Rays. Under his leadership the team has advanced to their first ever playoff and World Series appearances.

Last year the Rays finished 91-71, earning the American League Wild Card. The Rays have won 90-or-more games in three of the past four years under Maddon.

A three-year contract extension for manager Joe Maddon should be completed before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Maddon, 57, helped manage the Rays into the playoffs this season after trailing the Boston Red Sox in the wild card standings by as many as nine-and-a-half games entering the final month of the season. The Rays, who finished with 90-or-more wins for the third time in the last four seasons, did so even after losing impact players such as Carl Crawford and Matt Garza from their 2010 squad.

The Rays went on to lose to the American League champion Texas Rangers in the American League Divisional Series. Maddon, however, was named the American League Manager of the Year for the second time in his career.

Maddon is best known for being at the helm of the Rays as they have transformed from perennial losers into a contender in baseball’s most difficult division. Despite losing 197 games in his first two seasons in Tampa, the Rays have managed to go 368-215 since 2008.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the process of extending Manager Joe Maddon’s contract, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

 Maddon’s current contract expires at the end of 2012, and both sides have expressed interest in extending his relationship with the squad. Maddon spoke about the possible extension in Dallas at the baseball winter meetings saying, “I’m sure it’s going to be all worked out in due time.”

Although there is no deadline for the decision, most are expecting the issue to be resolved before spring training opens February 19.

Maddon is best known for being at the helm of the Rays as they have transformed from perennial losers into a contender in baseball’s most difficult division. Despite losing 197 games in his first two seasons in Tampa, the Rays have managed to go 368-215 since 2008.