Fox Sports dismisses complaints by Torre

? Despite harsh criticism from Yankees manager Joe Torre, Fox Sports will not alter its promos for the Red Sox-Yankees series that include replays of the fight between Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek that escalated into a brawl July 24 and of Pedro Martinez shoving coach Don Zimmer to the ground in a free-for-all in last year’s ALCS.

“I’m not sure it’s fair to single Fox out on this when most media outlets use these incidents one way or another to capture the intensity of this series,” Fox Sports spokesman Lou D’Ermilio said Wednesday.

“They are part of the story. On Tuesday, the local tabloids played up the physical side of the rivalry with color photos — some full page — of A-Rod and Varitek, with inflammatory headlines such as ‘Play Brawl,’ ‘When Wrong is Right Stuff’ and ‘It’s On.'”

In his pregame remarks Tuesday, Torre took issue with Fox and Major League Baseball for promoting the violent side of the game in television campaigns and video games.

“I don’t like it,” Torre said. “I don’t think it does anything to the players. The only thing that concerns me — and I mentioned it when we played the Mets in 2000 — is that you’re inciting fans.”

In 2000, Torre questioned why ESPN constantly replayed video of then-Yankee Roger Clemens hitting the Mets’ Mike Piazza in the head with a pitch.

“To me, it’s not something that I’m proud of,” Torre said, “and I guess they are figuring they want to get people so interested, just like some of these games and computer games that you have guys sliding into second base and punching the second baseman when he gets up. I think it’s disgraceful that we have licensing things going on in major league baseball that promote violence and things that should not be a part of this.”

Said MLB spokesman Rich Levin: “Joe’s entitled to his opinion and we respect that.”

On Sporting News Radio Wednesday, Fox Sports president Ed Goren reacted to Torre’s criticism. “Poor Joe. Poor Joe,” Goren said. “When the newspapers, talk radio and cable sports news stop reporting (violent incidents), then maybe he would have an issue with us.”