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TORONTO -- As written, the Official Rules of Baseball can occasionally be difficult to decipher, the language convoluted and the logic difficult to follow.

This was not one of those times. The rule is 5.09. The relevant subsection is (b). It states:

"The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out when (b) the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base or retire a runner on a pick-off play; runners may not advance."

What does all that have to do with Boston's 9-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays here Tuesday night? Plenty, as it turns out.

Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said that when he cocked his arm to make a bases-loaded throw to first base in the third inning, his elbow struck the mask of plate umpire Clint Fagan. The ball sailed well beyond the reach of Sox first baseman Mike Napoli, two runs scored on the play, and eventually so did a third.

The play did not decide the game. The Sox eventually wiped out that 4-0 deficit and took a 7-6 lead before falling 9-7 to the Blue Jays. But Saltalamacchia admitted afterward that had he known the rule, he wouldn't have let the play go unchallenged.

"My elbow hit the umpire's mask, which I've done in the past, but no one has ever said anything, so I didn't make a stink about it because I didn't really know the ruling on it," Saltalamacchia said. "Now I know, once it hits his mask it's got to be a dead ball.

"It definitely hit, but [that is] part of the game, apparently."

Saltalamacchia said he discussed the play with Fagan after manager John Farrell had gone out to discuss the play in between innings with the umpire. Farrell said he didn't realize immediately what had happened.

"Not immediately at the time," Farrell said. "It was a bang-bang play, a quick reaction play on his part, and then after thinking the direction of the ball, Salty's a little more accurate than that. And that's when, after the inning, I asked [Fagan] what he had on the play, and he said he thought his elbow hit him after [Saltalamacchia] threw the ball and he was recoiling. He didn't see it the way we saw it."

Farrell relayed to Saltalamacchia the umpire's version, that the Sox catcher had hit the mask on his follow through.

"Kind of impossible," Saltalamacchia said. "I tried to tell him that. He said, "Well, I thought you did.' I told him that when my arm is going back I felt it hit you. At that point, I was already getting ready to go forward, and I couldn't hold up."

Saltalamacchia said the same thing has happened in "spring training, big league games. Mainly it's the backpick to first. You jump up real quick. He's trying to see the pitch all the way in, and [the arm] hits his mask. Usually, I'm able to kind of stop. But at that point, I was trying to get the backpick and get an out for Jonny [Lester]."

The umpire didn't say anything immediately after the play, Saltalamacchia said; not that he was obliged to.

"I didn't hear anybody say anything. Like I said, if I had to do it all over again, I definitely would have made a stink about it and got us at least a try at it."

Making it even more aggravating for the Sox catcher, he thought the play had a chance to work, too. Jose Bautista, who was on first base, had taken a big lead.

"He was getting off pretty good," Saltalamacchia said. "He didn't start heading back until I was ready to throw it. So I think we probably had a good shot at him."

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox's first series loss in 2013 largely came down to one crucial factor. Simply put, their bullpen was not on par with that of the Baltimore Orioles, a scenario that played out again in Thursday's 3-2 loss at Fenway Park.

The Boston bullpen was considered to be a strength entering the season and sparkled in the Opening Day win at New York, but has become a slight issue. Thursday's results by five Red Sox relievers (one run in four innings) do not scream for changes, but the pen as a whole was outdueled by Baltimore's and now has an ERA of 5.47 since that season-opening victory.

The Orioles, meanwhile, have a bullpen ERA of 2.79, and looked much more capable over the last two cold, dreary nights in Boston.

Alfredo Aceves gave the Sox enough to be satisfied in a spot start, giving up two runs in five innings. Clayton Mortensen gave up a hit with two outs in the seventh and Andrew Miller -- the lone left-hander at manager John Farrell's disposal -- entered to do one thing, that being to retire Nick Markakis.

However, Miller walked Markakis, continuing a troubling trend that has seen him allow the first man he faces to reach in three of four outings (the one time he retired the batter was when he was cleaning up Joel Hanrahan's mess Wednesday night, the most notable of the bullpen woes thus far). Farrell has to choose wisely when using Miller, and when the lanky southpaw struggles immediately, it can hurt.

"That's the life of a situational left-hander. He's pressed into action right away," Farrell said.

The skipper insisted there is no reason to panic, but it hurts to make that call for Miller and see things go sour.

"We're in the first 10 games of the season so I'm not going to rush to judgment," Farrell said. "Certainly you'd like to see the effectiveness be there but I'm sure in time it will be. He's a valuable guy for us right now. We have to pick our spots with that one left-hander out there, even though [Koji Uehara] and [Junichi Tazama] have been fairly successful against lefties, but that's the situation he's in right now."

Uehara had a chance to pick up his teammate, but it took just one of his pitches, a split-finger fastball that lacked bite, for Adam Jones to rip a tiebreaking RBI double, plating the decisive run for the O's.

The Boston bats managed two singles in 3 2/3 innings against four Orioles relievers, the first of whom -- Brian Matusz -- struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Stephen Drew with two men on to end the sixth.

After the game, Saltalamacchia was asked about the Baltimore bullpen.

"They're good," he said.

Then, Drew was asked the same question.

"They're great," he said.

Whether they are good or great is a matter of semantics. What is clear is nobody can look at the Boston relief corps as it is currently performing and use either term to describe it. And because relievers and starters are so intertwined, that could become more of an issue.

Indeed, the Red Sox have a pair of dynamos at the top of the rotation right now in Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. In part due to one injury and one rain delay, the other four men who have started for Boston this year have failed to last beyond five innings in five separate starts. That puts more emphasis on winning those late wars, something Boston could not do Wednesday when Hanrahan imploded and failed to do on Thursday, even if it was just a matter of a pitch here or there.

The Orioles have won 21 of their past 30 games against the Red Sox, including 15 of 21 over the past two seasons, when their pen has been exceptional and Boston's has been a mess. It's too early to tell if that trend will last, but the Sox are keen on the fact that tight games with Baltimore are not going to be easy.

"We just have to keep going after those guys, we're going to see them a lot more," Saltalamacchia said.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A few takeaways from the Fort, where it was all about John Lackey in the Red Sox's 4-3 loss to the split-squad Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday in their Grapefruit League opener:

* The offseason was short on big-splash acquisitions, but catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said we might have forgotten about one that cost the Red Sox nothing: Lackey.

"He's been a No. 1 [starter] his whole career," Saltalamacchia said. "He's got that in him to be a No. 1 again. That's the fortunate thing this team has: We've got four guys who can be No. 1. We had a free-agent signing in him because he's back and he's healthy. We're getting a guy we didn't have to go out and sign. It's going to be nice to have a guy like him to eat up innings like he's done his whole career."

Lackey, who underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery that sidelined him for nearly 16 months and who was pitching for the first time since Sept. 25, 2011, got out of a bases-loaded jam by giving up just one run.

"It could have gotten ugly," Saltalamacchia said. "He worked back, kept the ball down and the ball was coming out nice. We came into that knowing that we were going to throw fastballs. We didn't have anything else but two changeups we were going to throw. It was strictly a feel-good outing."

Manager John Farrell said the biggest bonus was no pain.

"It's a big step," Farrell said, "and it's one that over the last 16 months, he was obviously on his own program and probably at times felt he was the only one going through it. And today was the first step, the first building block toward spring training and getting back to being a regular member of the rotation.

"I think there was a lot of anticipation on a number of people's part -- and mostly John's. But now he's able to get into a five-day rotation -- normal sides, normal turns through the schedule."

According to Jon Lester, those who were surprised by Lackey's jovial postgame demeanor shouldn't have been.

"As far as in here, he's been the same since day one," Lester sad. "He's probably one of the greatest teammates I've ever had. ... He's on that top list for me. As far as dealing with the media, everybody struggles with that in their own way. John came from a place in Anaheim where no matter if you did good or bad, you were still the guy. [It was] a little bit smaller market, and he didn't have to deal with all this. We're all trying to get better at it."

* Jose (.118) Iglesias fired a shot over the bow with a two-run, seventh-inning homer over Fenway South's Green Monster, quickly sending Marquis Fleming's high fastball into orbit after an offseason in which his hitting was ridiculed.

"Wish there were a couple more like it," Farrell said. "He's a little more upright and more free in his overall swing. He got a fastball up in the zone and did what he's capable of doing. But I think more than anything, it's just the freeness and aggressiveness to the swing."

* Left-hander Drake Britton pitched a scoreless second inning but then was nicked for a run in the third when he gave up a double to Desmond Jennings and watched Jennings steal third and score on a throwing error by Saltalamacchia.

(Read full post)

A year away from being eligible for free agency, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Red Sox. The club announced the signing; agent James Munsey confirmed the terms.

By coming to agreement, Saltalamacchia avoids salary arbitration. The Sox have eight players still eligible for arbitration, including newcomer Joel Hanrahan, reliever Andrew Bailey, and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

The announcement of Saltalamacchia’s signing comes on the same day of reports that Mike Napoli had come to terms with the Red Sox on a one-year deal. There had been speculation that Napoli’s signing could open the way to a trade of Saltalamacchia, but at this stage it is evident that the Sox intend to use Napoli at first base. Mauro Gomez and David Ortiz are the only other first basemen on the roster.

Saltalamacchia figures to be the team’s No. 1 catcher, backed up by veteran David Ross, who projects to catch in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 games. Ryan Lavarnway will come to camp intent on challenging Saltalamacchia for the job, but the most likely scenario has Lavarnway returning to Triple-A Pawtucket. A trade is another possibility.

Saltalamacchia plans to be here. “He’s ready to go,’’ Munsey said in a text of his client, whose offensive numbers remained very consistent in his first two seasons as Boston’s No. 1 c atcher. Saltalamacchia had an on-base percentage of .288 in both seasons, and his on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) was .737 in 2011, .742 in 2012. His home runs increased by 9, from 25 to 16, in 62 more plate appearances.

Manager Bobby Valentine, in his one year with the Red Sox, likened Saltalamacchia to Orioles star catcher Matt Wieters and said Saltalamacchia was an “underappreciated” player.

"I think he’s one little step away from being an extremely productive offensive player," Valentine said in late September. "I mean, right now, you’d have to think his season is comparable with Wieters, who people are thinking is an MVP of, or close to an MVP of a playoff team. That’s just how close he is, I think."

He also praised Saltalamacchia for his work behind the plate.

“I never saw it fall off with his struggles," Valentine said. "And if you look at the video, there’s a lot of times he's sitting where the ball -- if the ball went to the place he's sitting, we'd probably get a ground-ball double play instead of missed by two feet, and wind up a double in the gap. Not every time, but often. Yeah, I’ve said, he’s underappreciated, that’s for sure.’’

When the full weight of Tampa Bay shortstop Reid Brignac toppled onto the right shoulder of Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury last April 13 as he was sliding into second base, it cost Ellsbury more than the 79 games he missed with a partially dislocated shoulder.

The injury conservatively cost Ellsbury at least $5 million, the raise he could have expected in salary arbitration had he come close to approximating his career performance when healthy. The Sox center fielder could have reasonably expected millions more had his 2012 performance approached his breakout 2011 season, when he was MVP runner-up.

Had Ellsbury remained healthy, he would have compared favorably in arbitration to two outfielders who have had similar service time in the major leagues, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones and San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence. The Orioles last summer signed Jones, who had a breakout 2012 (32 home runs, .334 OBP, .505 SLG, .839 OPS) to a six-year, $85.5 million extension that averages $14.25 million a season. Pence is expected to command between $13 million and $14 million in arbitration from the Giants, after a season in which he hit 24 home runs and posted a .319/.425/.743 line.

Jones and Pence, like Ellsbury, have been All-Stars, but neither player has had a season as spectacular as the one Ellsbury had in 2011, when he hit 32 home runs, stole 39 bases and posted a .376/.552/.928 line. But neither has missed the playing time Ellsbury has in two of the past three seasons. Ellsbury played in just 18 games in 2010 after colliding with third baseman Adrian Beltre and fracturing his ribs.

So Ellsbury, who is in his third and final year of arbitration eligibility before qualifying for free agency after the 2013 season, is probably looking at only a slight increase over the $8.05 million he was paid in 2012, when his salary jumped from $2.04 million. A much bigger payday will come in free agency, assuming he returns to form. If that happens, agent Scott Boras can be expected to push Ellsbury into the $20 million to $25 million per year range occupied by outfielders Josh Hamilton and Carl Crawford.

It is for that reason the Sox and Boras have not engaged in talks regarding a contract extension. Having missed so much time, Ellsbury needs to make his case that he deserves to be near the top of baseball's salary bracket; the Sox wouldn't think of paying him at that level now.

Ellsbury is one of nine Red Sox players eligible to file for arbitration, with the players' association notifying MLB by Jan. 15 of the players filing, a formality. Three days later, on Jan. 18, teams and players exchange salary figures. If a team and arbitration-eligible player cannot reach an agreement, the case goes to an arbitration hearing, and a three-man panel chooses one of the two salary figures. Hearings are scheduled from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20.

Last winter, 142 players filed for arbitration. Only seven cases went to a hearing last February, with teams winning five of those. Teams have won the majority of cases in 14 of the past 16 years.

The other Sox players eligible for arbitration are catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and seven pitchers. The nine Sox players are listed here, along with the salaries projected for them by MLBtraderumors.com, using a formula the website has devised to project salaries of arbitration-eligible players: Ellsbury ($8.1 million), Saltalamacchia ($3.9M), Andrew Bailey ($3.9M), Joel Hanrahan ($6.9M), Alfredo Aceves ($2.6M), Daniel Bard ($1.6M), Andrew Miller ($1.4M), Franklin Morales ($1.4M) and Craig Breslow ($2.4M). Hanrahan, like Ellsbury, is in his last year of arbitration eligibility and can expect a significant bump from the $4.1 million he was paid by Pittsburgh in 2012. Saltalamacchia is also just a year away and is in line for an increase from the $2.5 million he was paid in 2012.

Bailey increased his salary eight-fold last winter, when he was signed by Boston for $3.9 million in his first year of eligibility after being paid $465,000 by Oakland in 2011. But his injury-shortened season and ineffective performance are likely to keep his salary static in 2013.

BOSTON -- Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said Saturday that he welcomed the addition of backup catcher David Ross, likening it to sharing playing time with a veteran like Jason Varitek.

"When I did see him sign, I was kind of excited," he said Saturday while appearing at the team's "Christmas at Fenway" event. "I've gotten to talk to him a few times, played against him, I'm excited for the chance to work with him and learn from him."

Saltalamacchia said he didn't view Ross' signing as a reason to believe the club might move him in a trade.

"I've been in situations before where things happen and I understand it," said Saltalamacchia, who came to the Sox in a trade-deadline deal in 2011. "I look at it as an opportunity to work together."

What does Ross bring to the mix?

"It's basically putting him in the same category as Varitek," he said. "A guy who's been through it, a guy who's been around the game, an older guy. I talked to [Atlanta catcher Brian] McCann a lot about him, and he loved him. I'm excited to work with him. I think he brings that veteran's presence to the pitching staff, with the guys on the team. A great guy to have."

Saltalamacchia said he has spoken with manager John Farrell a couple of times since Farrell has been hired.

"Farrell just told me, ‘I think this is a guy [Ross] who complements you real well. You guys will work together, [he] brings that veteran leadership where you can kind of sit back and talk, get back to the basics of the game.'"

Saltalamacchia was happy that bullpen coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck elected to return. "He's one of my best friends, something I wanted from the get-go," he said. "I think it's going to be best for the team, the pitchers. Having a guy like that is priceless."

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney checks in Sunday morning on the Red Sox catching situation , which got more interesting Saturday with the signing of long-time backup David Ross. The Sox now have a surplus of backstops: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Lavarnway and now Ross. Here are some highlights from Olney's take:

* A lot of what Boston does with its catching depends on what the Red Sox are saying in their internal evaluations of Saltalamacchia and Lavarnway, and whether they really see either as the guy as a frontline catcher in 2014 and 2015.

* While the 25-year-old Lavarnway has intriguing power -- he hit 32 homers in the minors in 2011 -- some rival evaluators have some serious questions about whether he can be a catcher in the major leagues, just as some have never viewed Jesus Montero as someone who could play the position. "I've never seen a catcher with actions that slow," said one evaluator of Lavarnway. "Ever."

* From a longtime evaluator: "The Red Sox don't think they have the right everyday guy on their roster. Salty is too inconsistent behind the plate and struggles hitting left-handed pitching. Lavarnway has to hit a lot to be the everyday guy to make up for his below-average defense, which is a big question because of how his offensive season went in 2012. [David] Ross is a good sign for them, but he is a guy you can't overexpose.

* The guess here is that Boston will go with Saltalamacchia and Ross, while continuing Lavarnway's development in the minors.

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox's signing of veteran catcher David Ross to a reported two-year deal worth $6.2 million is an interesting move by GM Ben Cherington.

It means the Red Sox now have Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Lavarnway and Ross behind the plate. Ross' presence raises the question of whether Cherington is considering a trade involving Saltalamacchia or Lavarnway in order to fill another void on the roster.

Ross, 35, has been the best backup catcher in baseball, and he's been a backup only because perennial All-Star Brian McCann is the starting catcher for the Atlanta Braves.

Ross, who bats and throws right-handed, has played behind McCann in Atlanta the last four seasons. He posted a .256 average with nine homers and 23 RBIs in 62 games in 2012. He's known for his game calling and defense.

It's unlikely the Red Sox would want Lavarnway to spend another full season at Triple-A Pawtucket, so adding Ross means all three catchers would battle for two spots during spring training if a trade is not made.

If the Red Sox deal Lavarnway and the club believes the tandem of Saltalamacchia and Ross is the direction it wants to go, it would be a similar to 2012 when former catcher Kelly Shoppach played when the team was facing a left-hander.

Or, Ross could serve as a mentor for Lavarnway and the two could split time behind the plate until the rookie proves he can handle the job on a full-time basis, which could mean Cherington is shopping Saltalamacchia.

Lavarnway has shown tremendous skills offensively in the minors, but it hasn't translated to the big league level. The 25-year-old spent the majority of the season with the PawSox, but played a total of 46 games for Boston and posted a .157 average with two homers and 12 RBIs. Defensively, he made strides in 2012.

Saltalamacchia, who is well-respected by Boston's pitching staff and is a leader in the clubhouse, hit .222 in 121 games, but added 25 homers and 59 RBIs. His offense tailed off in the second half of the season.

Now it's your turn: What do you think the Sox should do? Vote in the poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

On each weekday until baseball’s GM meetings Nov. 7, we will spotlight one key decision the Red Sox need to make this offseason that will help determine the success or failure of the 2013 team.

Today’s topic: Who will be the Red Sox catchers in 2013?

The Red Sox gave their first extended look last season to Jarrod Saltalamacchia as heir apparent to Jason Varitek, who retired last spring after shepherding Sox pitching staffs for the better part of 15 seasons as the team’s catcher. They also gave rookie Ryan Lavarnway his first big-league audition behind the plate.

Defining the decision: Is Salty/Lavarnway combo a long-term solution?

Saltalamacchia hit 25 home runs, one short of the team record for home runs by a catcher, but his on-base percentage of .288 ranked 11th among catchers with 300 or more plate appearances, as did his WAR (wins above replacement) of 1.2. Except for home runs, his offensive numbers were almost identical from the previous season. Lavarnway only had 153 at-bats, but struggled mightily (.157 batting average, 2 homers) after slugging his way through the minors.

Saltalamacchia will be eligible for free agency after next season, so if the Red Sox do not believe he is the long-term answer at catcher, now might be the time to start thinking about an upgrade.

But a catcher’s value to a ballclub is measured by more than just his offense, and while scouts have offered mixed reviews of the catchers’ defensive ability, Gary Tuck, the team’s bullpen coach and highly respected catching instructor, was effusive in his praise of the team’s tandem.

“(Saltalamacchia) can catch the ball and block the ball as good as anybody in the game,’’ Tuck said at the end of the season. “He made strides in calling a game this year, and if we ever give him the chance, he’ll throw guys out.

“Blocking the plate, we introduced a couple new things, but he’s as good an athlete as you can have back there. He made a lot of strides. I’m very proud of him.’’

Saltalamacchia blocked 339 pitches in 852 innings, which compares favorably to Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who was named the 2012 Fielding Bible’s best defensive catcher last season (329 blocked pitches in 1,188 innings).

Saltalamacchia threw out just 18.4 percent of the runners who attempted to steal on him last season, a significant drop from the 31 percent caught-stealing rate he had in 2011, which in part reflects the team’s preference to emphasize getting the batter out (no slide step, for example) than throwing the runner out. Tuck noted how new White Sox manager Robin Ventura emphasized shutting down the running game, resulting in a significant spike in runners thrown out by catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is not regarded as a strong thrower.

Lavarnway had an even worse time of it throwing out runners (3 of 31, 9.7 percent), although arm strength does not appear an issue. Better technique, and more help from the pitchers, should improve those numbers.

“Do I want our guys to be throwing guys out? Are you kidding me?’’ Tuck said. “We’ve got to do a better job.’’

But Tuck also spoke of Lavarnway having great potential. “He’s a different player than a year ago,’’ he said. “He made great strides. An absolute leader. He calls a good game. He made physical strides.

“He has a feel for not even taking a plan but giving a plan and adapting a plan to hitters. He has a real feel for the game. That’s a special gift. (Joe) Girardi had it. Jason (Varitek).’’

He also noted that between his time in Pawtucket and his stint with the Red Sox, Lavarnway caught more games than he’d ever had and finished the season tired. He’ll have a greater awareness of the physical demands going into next season.

Option A: Stay with the current tandem

This appears to be the most likely course. Only one catcher, Pierzynski, hit more home runs than Saltalamacchia last season, so there is value in having a catcher with power, even if it means living with the strikeouts (139 in 2012).

Lavarnway, even in his short time in the big leagues, appeared to gain the trust of Sox pitchers, most notably Jon Lester. The familiarity of both catchers with the staff can’t be discounted and should prove beneficial to new manager John Farrell, whose own knowledge of Sox pitchers should favor improvement.

If Lavarnway hits, he could ultimately be Saltalamacchia’s biggest challenger for the No. 1 job.

Option B: Trade Saltalamacchia, consider other options

Saltalamacchia, who is eligible for his second year of arbitration, remains one of the more affordable players in the Sox lineup, though his salary will take a significant jump from its current $2.5 million. Both Pierzynski and Mike Napoli, who are regarded more for their offense, are free agents, but Pierzynski is 36 and Napoli might make more sense for the Sox as a first baseman.

Long shot: Paging Joe Mauer

When Joe Mauer reportedly was placed on waivers by the Minnesota Twins during the August waiver period, there were rumors that the Red Sox might place a claim. But for physical reasons, Mauer’s days of catching every day appear to be over (only 74 games behind the plate last season), and he still has 6 years and $138 million remaining on his contract.

Your turn: What's the best option for the Red Sox?

We’ve outlined the possibilities, now tell us what you would do if you were in Ben’s shoes. Vote in the poll above and leave your more detailed thoughts in the comments section.

NEW YORK -- In the moments before the visitor’s clubhouse emptied late Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, each and every Boston Red Sox player and staff member gave out handshakes and hugs to one another.

Some players were traveling back to Boston on the team’s charter flight, while others were spending the night in New York and traveling to their homes on Thursday morning. For a team that finished the season in last place in the A.L. East with a 69-93 record, there was a sense of relief that it was finally over.

For all the problems both on and off the field for the Red Sox in 2012, the players were a close group.

“Obviously there was a lot of talk going into the season about the clubhouse and I still stand by it until this day that it was a good clubhouse,” outfielder Cody Ross said. “We all got along, we all liked each other and hung out together, not only at the field but off the field. It’s a great group of guys.”

Ross was one of the last players to leave the clubhouse Wednesday night. Despite the difficult season, he remained positive throughout.

“It was tough, obviously,” Ross said. “It didn’t turn out the way we all anticipated during spring training. We had high expectations for ourselves and everybody did for us. Nobody feels worse than we do. As a team, obviously, we underachieved and didn’t play as good as we were supposed to.

“At the same time, a lot of guys worked really hard in here and kept battling, kept fighting and didn’t give up. That’s all you can ask for when you’re having a tough season, or had a tough season like we did. Guys kept going and fighting.”

Many of Ross' teammates agreed with his comments about the team’s unity.

“It wasn’t what we expected, obviously, but we grew to know a lot about each other through all the hard times and sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do to get better,” catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. “We’ve seen each other at our worst and we’ve seen each other at our best. Through it all we still stuck together. The last two months wasn’t easy being out of contention, just basically going out there and playing hard every night. We lived and died with each other and that’s exactly what happened.”

“From a team standpoint, we just didn’t play up to our capabilities,” shortstop Mike Aviles said. “You can’t call it a positive season when we’re in last place and we didn’t do the things we were expected to do, or what we expected ourselves to do, or what we should have been. It wasn’t a fun season. It was mentally draining, as well as physically draining, so it wasn’t the most fun of situations.”

Probably knowing his days as manager are over, Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine sat at the desk in his office and spoke about how bad the season was.

“It was a very disappointing season. Extremely disappointing,” Valentine said. “It was going to end sometime. I’m glad Baltimore lost before our game was over if that’s any consolation, but I don’t think that it is.

“It was trying. I don’t know how it could be more challenging than this season.”

Valentine held one last team meeting before the game and he said his message was simple.

“There are a lot of individual things people can gain from this season and they shouldn’t lose sight of it,” Valentine said. “As I told them, they are not defined as people by their record of a season. They’re defined by who they are and not what they are. They were part of a real lousy season but they gave it a hell of an effort every day.

“I’m proud of all of them.”

Valentine was scheduled to travel back with the team and will be in Boston on Thursday morning. He’ll meet with Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and ownership at some point in the next day or two.

“My plans right now are to wake up and have a long bike ride,” he said.

BOSTON -- Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who missed the previous four games with back spasms, was a smash in his return to the Boston Red Sox's lineup Wednesday night.

"Salty took a few days to make sure his back was fully healed," manager Bobby Valentine said. "[Tuesday] he felt good enough to play. The training room wanted to give him one more day. Today's one more day. It's good. I think Salty's going to finish strong. We get his bat in the lineup, I feel like he's going to help us win some games."

Saltalamacchia rewarded Valentine's confidence with a walk, triple, double and ninth-inning home run, his 24th of the season, in what was easily his best game while battling a slump that has gone on for the past three months.

"I wasn't trying to do too much," Saltalamacchia said. "I think because of the back I wasn't trying to overswing, but I felt comfortable. I was staying in on balls, I wasn't trying to pull anything, and I felt pretty good."

On June 9, the switch-hitting catcher was batting .273 with 11 home runs and 11 doubles. His on-base percentage was .317 and he was slugging .567, for an OPS of .883.

In 59 games since then before Wednesday night, Saltalamacchia was batting just .190, with a .263 OBP and .380 SLG. He had 12 home runs in that span, but just three doubles, and struck out almost twice as many times (77) as he hit safely (39).

His overall offensive performance this season entering Wednesday night was strikingly similar to his performance last season:

Season PA Hits AVG HR RBI OBP SLG OPS SO Walks
2011 -- 386 84 .235 16 56 .288 .450 .737 119 24
2012 -- 389 80 .225 23 53 .285 .459 .745 119 30

At 27, such back-to-back seasons suggest that what the Sox see is what they will get with Saltalamacchia, raising the question of how committed they are to him as their catcher of the foreseeable future. Factoring into that decision is how the club views his role in the subpar performance of the pitching staff. The pitchers have an ERA of 4.83 with Salty behind the plate, compared to the 3.77 posted by Kelly Shoppach.

But as recently as last week, one source said, the team indicated to Saltalamacchia that he remains very much in their plans for 2013. And manager Bobby Valentine lavished praise on the catcher Wednesday night.

"His back was a little tight after he tripled but he stayed in there and played great," Valentine said. "I think Salty's had a really good year for us, totally unappreciated by some. He's done a very good job most of the season. And a walk, double, triple and home run, pretty good."

With Ryan Lavarnway also struggling offensively (.161) in his first extended taste of big league action, catching could be an area in which GM Ben Cherington decides he needs reinforcements, although he could chalk it up to an off-year all around and give both catchers a chance to start fresh in 2013.

"We've been battling the past three months as well," Saltalamacchia said of the ballclub. "We're trying to win games, so personal accomplishments kind of go out the window. I'm not trying to do too much. The past three or four days, I was out, it might have helped me recuperate a little bit with my body, and I felt stronger.

"Personally, if I finish the season doing well, it will feel good but one guy can't win all the games. I think it would be better if the team went into the offseason feeling good about where we're at and win some games."

ESPNBoston.com intern Bill Humphrey contributed to this report.

BOSTON -- Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been given Saturday off after he was removed from Friday's game in the eighth inning due to back spasms.

"Salty's going to rest all day today and not take batting practice," said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. "He had a pretty good spasm. We talked about the situation and the situation is, let's make sure it's perfect before he comes back in September, but he wants to play so it'll probably be only a day or two."

Saltalamacchia has played a total 106 games this season and has a .225 average with 23 homers and 53 RBI. Rookie catcher Ryan Lavarnway is starting behind the plate and batting sixth.

NEW YORK -- Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said reliever Daniel Bard will rejoin the club from Triple-A Pawtucket, perhaps before the Sept. 1 date in which rosters can be expanded.

"We have to figure out what is the right time," the GM said, "but he has to be back here."

He also said it was unlikely that shortstop Jose Iglesias, projected to contend for the starting job next season, would be promoted before Sept. 1.

"We're getting good production out of shortstop," he said.

Cherington, asked whether he would like to see rookie Ryan Lavarnway catch more down the stretch, said he expects that both Lavarnway and starter Jarrod Saltalamacchia will get plenty of playing time.

"I think it's important they both play," he said. "They'll both be back for us next season. Bobby [Valentine] knows that, and it's up to him how much they play."

NEW YORK -- Five takeaways from a dreary drubbing in Yankee Stadium, where the Bombers hit five home runs in a game against the Red Sox for the second time this season, the first time they've ever flexed their muscles in that fashion against the Sox:

• Even Dustin Pedroia has his limits. Distressed by the characterization of his role as ringleader in a Yahoo! Sports story that told of players' venting to ownership about manager Bobby Valentine here three weeks ago -- a charge Pedroia vehemently denied -- the Red Sox second baseman has taken to making quick exits from the Sox clubhouse without speaking to reporters. He did so Friday night even though he hit a three-run home run, made several outstanding defensive plays and just missed hitting a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, flying out to the deepest part of the ballpark. Pedroia has been uniformly standup throughout his time here and has embraced the role of speaking, win or lose, and there is an expectation that he will eventually return to doing so. But it is clear he has been deeply wounded by the criticism directed at him in some circles since the Yahoo! story after previously being held up as the model of ultimate team player.

Pedroia, by the way, now has a 12-game hitting streak and has homered on three different birthdays, tying him with Ted Williams for most by a Sox player, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Nomar Garciaparra has four birthday homers, but three came in one game.

• David Ortiz has now been out a full month with a strained right Achilles tendon. It's amazing the impact his absence has had on the starting rotation.

Yes, you read that right. In the 30 games Ortiz has been out since being placed on the disabled list July 17, Sox starters have a 7-15 record with a 5.25 ERA (104 earned runs in 178 1/3 innings). They have failed to finish six innings in 13 of those 30 starts.

In the previous 30 games before Ortiz was hurt, Sox starters were 12-9 with a 4.24 ERA, a full point lower than after he was hurt. They failed to finish six innings in 10 of those 30 starts.

Is there an actual cause and effect? Probably not, but it demonstrates that the Sox offense isn't the only thing that has been misfiring since Big Papi went down. Valentine has used eight different players as DH in Ortiz's absence: Cody Ross 11 times, Pedro Ciriaco six, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway four apiece, Daniel Nava twice and Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Mauro Gomez once apiece. Earlier in the season, Will Middlebrooks served as DH one game, giving the Sox nine players who served as DH other than Ortiz this season. None of them has hit a home run in that position.

The Red Sox are now 12-18 without Ortiz. They were 46-44 before he was hurt; they're now 58-62. Do you think he needs any further evidence of his value to the team, both now and going forward? Friday night, he hit inside but did not run. He said he's getting closer, but no one is making any predictions.

• Will the Sox give extended playing time to rookie catcher Ryan Lavarnway to get a read on what they might have going into next season? Lavarnway has appeared in eight games so far, batting .125 (2-for-24), but with Kelly Shoppach traded to the Mets, they've created a window for evaluating the Yale product, who was voted best defensive catcher by International League managers in a Baseball America poll, which speaks to the progress he has made. The flip side of playing Lavarnway more, of course, is for the Red Sox to find out if Jarrod Saltalamacchia can break out of what is now a six-week hitting funk, one in which he is batting .188 over his past 53 games, with 69 strikeouts in 186 at-bats. Saltalamacchia hit just .217 in the second half last season, so there would appear to be grounds for concern that Saltalamacchia wears down during the season. He went 0-for-4 Friday with two K's and two infield flies. He has hit just three of his 20 home runs and driven in only six runs in the past month.

• With the Sox playoff viability fading by the day, will GM Ben Cherington entertain waiver deals for players who do not figure as part of the team's plans beyond this season? Players such as Aaron Cook, Cody Ross and Mike Aviles, all of whom would have some value for a contender down the stretch. Vicente Padilla, Mark Melancon and the recently acquired Craig Breslow could also be shipped out, if Cherington decided to go in that direction. Don't be surprised by any player movement before rosters are frozen Sept. 1. Cherington is with the club.

• It should be noted that Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez, the two players cited in the Yahoo! report as instigators of the players' meeting with ownership here three weeks ago, came into Friday's game ranked 1-2 in the AL in batting in August. Gonzalez was at .386 until an 0-for-4 Friday dropped him to .361. Pedroia came in batting .379 and is now at .371 after a 1-for-4 Friday night.

NEW YORK -- Bobby Valentine returned to New York to manage for the first time since he was fired by the Mets after the 2002 season.

He may not have come back as a conquering hero -- not with the Red Sox a game under .500 (49-50), 10½ games behind the Yankees and 4½ games out in the wild-card race -- but he was hardly cursing his fate, either, regardless of how much his team has underachieved.

“

I think we're heading in the right direction. ... I think we could build on that to 10, 15, 20 games over .500.

” -- Bobby Valentine, on the Red Sox

"I'm a lucky guy," Valentine said when asked if his enthusiasm for the job has waned at all. "When I wake up in the morning, I count my blessings.

"Hell's bells, it's been exciting. Challenging for sure."

As upbeat as Valentine sounded Friday, it was hard to imagine how giddy he would have been if the Sox had come in here as something more than a team that has gone 8-13 in July, has lost 5 out of its past 6 and had beaten the Yankees only once in six previous meetings this season, all of which took place in Fenway Park.

The Sox manager talked about what a "great group of guys" he has, saying "I think we're heading in the right direction.

"We got off to a lousy start there with some confusion in the bullpen, we've been about five games over since that bad start in April, I think we could build on that to 10, 15, 20 games over .500."

For the Sox to finish 20 games over .500 (91-71), they would have to play at a .667 pace (42-21) the rest of the way. What does Valentine see that makes him believe this team is built to win?

He mentioned Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez's getting hot, referenced the return of Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford, noted that David Ortiz should be back soon and mentioned the stabilizing of the bullpen and his continued confidence in the team's starting pitching despite a 4.85 ERA and a record of 36-38.

"I've seen Adrian and Dustin really hitting their stride," Valentine said. "We went 80 games without them really getting their stride. They're feeling good. I see David coming back. I see Ellsbury and Carl in the lineup. I see our bullpen pretty well-stabilized and our starting staff feeling pretty good about themselves.

"Everyone says, 'How can the staff feel good about itself without Josh Beckett] or Jon Lester] winning their last starts and all that? They're healthy and throwing the ball well. I believe when you have quality people and they're healthy and maybe balls aren't hit at people -- whatever the hell it is that combined to have them not get W's and not do as well as we wanted to do in some of the games -- I think they will because they are healthy and they have qualities.

"A lot of the young guys we've had play are more established than they were early. Dan [Nava] is a more established player. Will [Middlebrooks] is a much more established player. Salty [Jarrod Saltalamacchia] has [19] home runs. Kelly [Shoppach] is working really well. The team has come along pretty well. I don't see things going backward."

He also singled out Mike Aviles as having "erased all doubts."

"He's played great defensively, made all the plays, he's been a iron man, and he's had a lot of big hits."

So there you have it: a team, by Valentine's reckoning, built to win.

And if it doesn't, who gets blamed? Hmmmm.