But the real reason for fan anger is the Red Sox' 12-18 record and the fact they opened play Thursday night four games behind the fourth-place Yankees.
"I was told there were a lot of negative feelings about last year," said Valentine, who is in his first season.
Amen, Bobby.
No more fake pickoffs
Major League Baseball appears ready to outlaw a pickoff move in 2013.
A righthander will no longer be allowed to fake a throw to third base, then spin and try to pick off a runner on first, unless he first steps off the rubber.
The Playing Rules Committee has approved a proposal to make it a balk, with MLB executives and umpires in agreement.
The players' union vetoed the plan for this season but MLB is allowed to implement the change after a one-year wait. What would happen if the players continued to strongly object remains to be seen.
Trial continues
Roger Clemens' former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, was the focus of the former pitcher's perjury trial Thursday.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took the stand in Washington federal court and prosecutors used him to show how close Clemens and McNamee had become.
McNamee has said he injected Clemens with steriods on several occasions.
The defense then used Cashman to attack McNamee's integrity - the Yankees eventually fired him - and praised Clemens.
Earlier, David Lintner, the Astros' team doctor, who was there during Clemens' years with the team (2004-06) testified he never saw any evidence that the pitcher had used steroids or HGH.
The trial hinges on whether Clemens lied to Congress in 2008 when he said he had never used performance-enhancing drugs.
Noteworthy
Vladimir Guerrero, 37, agreed to a minor-league contract with Toronto. . . . Tampa Bay activated infielder Jeff Keppinger and put first baseman Brandon Allen on the 15-day DL (strained right quadriceps).
Contact Don McKee
at dmckee@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
