By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Boston, MA

Boston Red Sox management has given manager Bobby Valentine a vote of confidence, despite the team's disappointing play.

"We are not making a change in manager," principal owner John W. Henry said in an email to reporters, underscoring the team's commitment to Valentine, who replaced Terry Francona at the helm.

"In baseball, managers often get too much credit and too much blame for what happens on the field," Henry said in his email. "That seems to be a constant. There is often the thought in organizations, 'This isn't working so the manager needs to go.' But an organization is much more than the field manager. We all share responsibility for the success and failure of the Boston Red Sox."

The Red Sox are at .500, nine games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and trailing in the wild-card race, with 52 games left in the regular season.

Henry said he is satisfied with the efforts the players are giving every game and blamed the team's injuries to its poor performance.

"There has been no lack of effort from our players and we have had a number of them playing hurt," Henry said. "I watch every game and the effort our players put in night after night is very clear to see."

Also, Henry assured the ownership's commitment to the team despite its struggles.

"Our commitment to winning is unabated. That is our focus. We continue to have the 2nd highest payroll among the 30 clubs. We have been at this for more than 10 years in Boston, and winning is just as much our focus today as it was when we took over," Henry said.

Earlier, general manager Ben Cherington also expressed his support for Valentine, stressing the team's mediocre performance is a shared responsibility.

"When the performance isn't there, we're all going to be criticized and we've earned that criticism," Cherington said. "I don't think it's fair to direct it at any one person. We're collectively responsible and Bobby's one of those people, so am I, so are the players, so are the coaches and so is everyone."

"I regret that they had to do it. If our record was better, they wouldn't have to do it. Totally appreciated, though. They felt it was necessary. They think it was good for the guys," said Valentine, who signed a two-year deal to replace Francona.

 

 

Red Sox Management Supports Bobby Valentine