Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine expressed satisfaction Friday with how his team is performing lately.

"We've played pretty well for a lot of stretches of the year ... but right now we're getting healthier, and that's the good news," he said during his weekly appearance on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN New York 98.7 radio.

Valentine acknowledged that it hasn't been an easy year, but things are looking up with the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford and Dustin Pedroia coming off the disabled list and rejoining the Sox lineup this week.

"It's been a work in progress, and I love what I'm doing," Valentine said. "We've got a great group of guys to work with."

He is hoping that Boston can get on a roll and get back in the AL East race.

"Obviously we haven't had as many wins as I was hoping for at this time in January, but we are coming together. So I have no regrets.

"It's been challenging, absolutely, absolutely challenging, but also very exciting."

Valentine added that he thinks the Red Sox can improve internally by getting better play from the likes of struggling pitchers Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, saying he didn't think it was necessary to make major moves or roster changes ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

Valentine also touches on the strong play of outfielder Cory Ross, provides an update on injured DH David Ortiz's heel and offers up his opinion of the AL East rival Yankees.

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