Henry, Cherington Back Valentine; Ortiz Receives Injection

John Henry and Ben Cherington expressed their support for manager Bobby Valentine.

Henry:

To blame Bobby Valentine for the Red Sox being .500 at this point in the season is simply wrong. A lot has been written about injuries to key players this year. The impact of that on the Sox this year should not be discounted.

In baseball, managers often get too much credit and too much blame for what happens on the field. 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. We are not making a change in manager.

Cherington:

Bobby's our manager and we're not considering anyone else. He is committed to managing the team as he ever has been. We're committed to him and we're trying everything we can to support him and make this work. ... When the performance isn't there, we're all going to be criticized and we've earned that criticism. I don't think it's fair to direct it at any one person. We're collectively responsible ... We're doing the job the best we can and we're focused on making it better. I support Bobby.

Valentine appreciated the vote of confidence:

I regretted that they had to do it. If our record was better they wouldn't have had to do it. Totally appreciate it, though. They felt it was necessary, they think it was good for the guys.

Adrian Gonzalez:

[H]e deserves it. It's one of those things where he hasn't swung the bat all year, he hasn't pitched - it's us who are playing out there. We're at a .500 record right now and it's on us, it's not on Bobby. Everybody wants to make a big deal out of that, but it's never been on Bobby. It's been on us.

David Ortiz received an injection Monday afternoon (believed to be Marcaine) to help alleviate the pain and swelling of his strained right Achilles tendon. He has been on the disabled list since July 16, but hopes to return to the lineup during the team's upcoming road trip.

Andrew Bailey is scheduled to pitch back-to-back days on Wednesday and Thursday for Pawtucket. He hit 94 mph with his fastball on Sunday and threw his cutter and curveball. ... A decision on Scott Atchison's forearm/elbow will come in a few days - either Tommy John surgery or rehab. ... Vicente Padilla is dealing with biceps and triceps soreness.