NESN

Bobby Valentine Admits Red Sox Need Help, Calls Current Roster ‘Weakest’ in Team’s September History

Editor's
note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby
Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select a Valentine quote that sums up
the day for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox will be relying on more
reinforcements.

After the Pawtucket Red Sox finished their
season by claiming the Governor's Cup on Friday, Red Sox manager Bobby
Valentine indicated the team would likely recall "one or two" more
guys to the major league roster.

That's because, according to Valentine, his
current corps just isn't cutting it. Since the group has lost nine of 11 games
in September, it prompted the skipper to offer some harsh — but honest — criticism.

"This is the weakest roster we've ever had in September
in the history of baseball," he said. "It could use help
everywhere."

Let's compare Friday's lineup against the
Blue Jays to the Opening Day lineup against the Tigers on April 5.

Friday:

Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Mike Aviles, 2B
Cody Ross, RF
Mauro Gomez, DH
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Daniel Nava, LF
James Loney, 1B
Jose Iglesias, SS

Opening
Day:

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Cody Ross, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS

While the Opening Day lineup boasted a star-studded
cast, it ultimately never equated to victories. As a result, the Red Sox
elected to trade away Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez – among others — at different
points of the season.

Injuries also gradually sapped the team's
competitive fire. Despite playing one game in August, David Ortiz has essentially
been sidelined since July 16 with an Achilles injury that prematurely ended his
season.

Dustin Pedroia is currently attending to his wife,
Kelli, who delivered their second son back in Boston. Ryan Sweeney has also been
shelved for the season after suffering a fractured knuckle while punching a
door.

There were also additions in between the
Opening Day lineup and Friday's game that were sidetracked by setbacks.

Before getting traded to the Dodgers, Carl
Crawford missed the majority of the season with a troublesome elbow that
required Tommy John surgery. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks suffered a broken
wrist last month that shattered his rookie campaign.

That's not to mention the pitching staff's
yearlong nightmare. With the exception of Jon Lester, each member of the Red
Sox rotation this season has spent at least one stint on the 15-day disabled
list.

Five of Friday's starters began the season
with the Pawtucket Red Sox. So clearly, Valentine needs all the help at his
disposal.

"If there are
people that could be brought up, we should bring them up," Valentine said,
referring to players in Triple-A. "But I don't know that there's a lot of
guys left."

It's not the
roster that Valentine expected to inherit last December. But with the overhaul,
he's trying to stay afloat.