Joe Maddon: Rays Won't Ban Beer ...

Maddon: Rays won't ban beer; "we're not the Boston Red Sox"

Unlike a certain other team, the Rays will not ban beer in their clubhouse.

"We're not the Boston Red Sox,'' manager Joe Maddon said.

New manager Bobby Valentine announced his plans, a change for the Sox coming off a season marred by reports that players were drinking beer and eating chicken during games.

Maddon said he feels the players should have the right to have a drink after games.

"I've said it a hundred times,'' Maddon said. "For me at the end of the day, I'd much prefer our players making good decisions, and if you're of legal age, and the game is over, and you've sweated and lost a bunch of pounds and you want to sit down and have a beer, I see nothing wrong with that.''

The Rays allow drinking on team flights at the start and during a road trip, but don't serve on flights coming home at the of a trip, with the theory that some players are then getting in their cars to drive. On the road, they take the team bus.

Maddon was asked about serving fried chicken in the clubhouse.

"Depends if that's what they're serving that night,'' Maddon said. "It kind of goes well with it actually.''