Henry, Cherington Meet with Valentine

Gordon Edes reports:

Cherington met with reporters to announce the team had completed a trade with the Cubs for outfielder Marlon Byrd nearly two hours after the Red Sox blew a 9-0 lead to the New York Yankees, with the Yankees scoring 15 unanswered runs for a 15-9 Red Sox loss that dropped the team's record to 4-10.

The topic quickly shifted from the trade to the team's early-season performance, which includes five straight losses at home. The last time the Red Sox lost five straight in a single homestand was back in 2006, when they fell out of contention in August by losing five games to the Yankees, a series that was called the "Boston Massacre" at the time. Saturday's loss was already dubbed the "Bobby Valentine's Day Massacre" by one New York-based tweeter.

Cherington:

"He's doing the best he can with the roster he has. It'll get better. He knows that and I know that, and along the way if changes need to be made on the roster, that's my responsibility."

I don't have much to add to that. I think Cherington pretty much nailed it. It's a little early to boo Valentine. But Fenway crowds can be rough, and he's more recognizable than any of the relievers.

The Sox get one more chance to get something from this series, if the weather holds, a big if. Then they head off to Minnesota to face the Twins, a team whose current record is so bad it's only one game better than the Sox.

The Sox also acquired Marion Byrd, an outfielder.