TORONTO — Bobby Valentine insisted he wasn't trying to be critical when he said his struggling Red Sox had "the weakest roster we've ever had in September in the history of baseball."
Two days after his latest inflammatory remark, Valentine tried to explain himself before Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays, offering an unsolicited clarification at the end of his morning media session.
"The other day when I made a comment about our September roster, that wasn't meant to be a criticism of any players or anything in the organization," Valentine said. "It's a statement of fact because of the injuries and our Triple-A team in the playoffs. This is different. We have less people than most September rosters. We have less positions filled than any September roster I've ever seen before.
"Anybody who thought that to be anything other than a statement of what it was, stand corrected on that."
International League champion Pawtucket plays Pacific Coast League champion Reno for the Triple-A title Tuesday.
PETTITTE'S PLANS: Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte, who has been out since June 27 with a fractured left ankle, told ESPN.com that the injury has made him think about returning next season at age 41. "I could probably say that when I came back I thought there was no chance that I was coming back, this is a one-year deal," said Pettitte, who is scheduled to start Tuesday. "But getting hurt and only having 60 innings right now and you were hoping to have a couple hundred innings under your belt, it definitely gives me the option to consider coming back again next year, that's for sure."
BLUE JAYS: DH Edwin Encarnacion was scratched from the lineup with a sore right big toe.
BREWERS: 1B Corey Hart, out with a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot, had a setback during a pregame baserunning session and is out indefinitely.
PIRATES: RHP James McDonald was removed from the starting rotation. McDonald is 3-5 with a 7.08 ERA in the second half after going 9-3 with a 2.37 ERA in the first.
ROCKIES: LHP Jorge De La Rosa, who is rehabbing from reconstructive elbow surgery and hasn't pitched in the majors since May 24, 2011, is expected to join the team this week and could start Thursday.
ROYALS: The contract of RHP Jake Odorizzi was purchased from Triple-A Omaha, and the top prospect is scheduled to start next weekend.
TIGERS: CF Austin Jackson was scratched with a sore left ankle. … C Alex Avila left in the sixth inning after a collision with 1B Prince Fielder.
Loading...