MLB notes: Owner John Henry takes blame for Boston’s poor play

Red Sox owner John Henry said watching Boston play this year is “painful.”

Speaking before Tuesday’s game against Minnesota, Henry said he “felt responsible” for how poorly his club has played.

Boston entered last in the A.L. East at 22-29. After finishing last in 2014, the Red Sox committed $183 million to sign free agents Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez during the offseason.

The Red Sox returned home after a 1-6 trip and have lost nine of their last 12.

“How painful has it been to watch these games?” Henry said. “I watch these games. I know how painful they are. We talk about television – it’s terrible television. It’s even worse to be responsible for this, and I feel responsible. I understand.”

The 65-year old owner hadn’t spoken to assembled reporters since the first week of spring training.

The Red Sox began the night with a .241 team average, fourth worst in the A.L., and were tied with the third-fewest runs.

“You look at the work that goes into it, and I have looked at it,” Henry said. “Did this whole team become a collection of poor hitters? I don’t think so. I think the production has been poor, and there are adjustments that need to be made.”

Henry didn’t hide his disappointment, even acknowledging how fans could be turned off.

He did praise general manager Ben Chering- ton, saying he’ll in place for a “long time.”

Henry didn’t think the club needed to make changes, saying the Red Sox needed to be “patient.” But he also didn’t hide his frustration.

“Very disappointed. It’s been an unacceptable 51 games,” he said.

Strasburg has strain

The Nationals say pitcher Stephen Strasburg was diagnosed with a strained left trapezius, an upper back muscle where the arm meets the neck.

Strasburg left Friday’s start at Cincinnati after 16 pitches and was put on the disabled list the following day. He was examined Monday was team doctors in Washington.

“As soon as he feels good, he’ll get back to throwing,” Williams said. “We don’t know when that will be, though.”

Hamilton out of lineup

Texas Ranger slugger Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Hamilton said his hamstring is a little sore. He described not playing in Tuesday’s game against the White Sox as precautionary.

Hamilton said he has been wrapping his hamstring since he started to play minor league games last month before rejoining the Rangers on May 25.

But the hamstring wasn’t wrapped Sunday when he was getting a break from the starting lineup. Hamilton came on a pinch hitter in the ninth and delivered a game- ending, two-run double. He said he felt the hamstring when he was halfway to second.