CINCINNATI -- Terry Francona wasn't pleased when, on his weekly appearance on Comcast’s Mohegun Sun Sports Tonight, Jonathan Papelbon had some harsh words and not-so-veiled threats for the Tampa Bay Rays for when the teams meet again June 30 to July 2 in Florida in the wake of the teams’ brawl at Fenway Park on June 5.

"In my opinion, it is a bunch of bull what they did. All I got to say is what comes around goes around. In my opinion, and the way I feel right now, this thing isn’t all settled and done. We still got to play them a few more times and I know, when we go into Tropicana things, will be a little different than when went in there last time," said Papelbon during the show.

The words were not music to Francona’s ears.

"I’ll speak to him," sighed Francona yesterday when the topic was brought up. "We don’t need to go there."

Francona was upset because Papelbon’s words not only could serve to fan whatever flames are left over, but also from the standpoint of the umpires, who especially now will be on the watch for anything that constitutes further paybacks.

One likely fear from the Sox’ point of view is that one high and tight pitch from Papelbon, even if it’s not meant as payback, could result in the closer’s ejection.

Papelbon said yesterday that he understood that concern, but he still seemed steamed by the James Shields fastball that drilled Coco Crisp, touching off the brawl that occurred a day after Crisp had issues with shortstop Jason Bartlett, and the Rays had issues with Crisp for his takeout slide of Akinori Iwamura on an unsuccessful stolen-base attempt.

Papelbon said he wasn’t worried about the umpires, hoping they would know the difference between a payback pitch and a purpose pitch to move a hitter off the plate to set up the next pitch, maybe down and away.

At that point, Francona happened by Papelbon’s locker. He leaned over to Papelbon and said, "When you get done holding court, could you come in and see me?"

Papelbon started to say something and Francona playfully but purposefully grabbed a handful of Papelbon’s T-shirt and dragged him out of the clubhouse to his office for a brief chat.