Bobby Valentine Still Trying to Build Winning Machine Despite Red Sox’ Moving Parts

This has really been a strange season for the Red Sox thus far.

The term "strange" is most appropriate because referring to it as "up and down" would not truly encapsulate the team's first 25 games.

The Sox lost the first three games of the season, and also suffered a five-game losing streak that included a sweep at the hands of the Yankees. However, they followed that skid up with a six-game winning streak that got them back to .500, and seemed to be an indication that things were about to change.

Now, the Red Sox enter Saturday's contest with the Orioles in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Injuries have made life rather difficult for the Red Sox. They've been without the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Kevin Youkilis and Andrew Bailey.

With so many moving parts, manager Bobby Valentine is still trying to build a winning machine — something that's proving difficult.