BOSTON -- A picture of every man who has managed the Boston Red Sox hangs on the wall in Bobby Valentine's office in the home clubhouse at Fenway Park. They're to the right of the current skipper's desk, which is cluttered with fan mail, scouting reports and his computer. It's Valentine's way of honoring the century of men who came before him.

Some of those men were loved. Some of them were feared. Some were jeered and hated.

Valentine's future legacy in Boston remains unknown at this point, but there are some positive signs now that the team is winning.

Red Sox fans had a strong connection with Valentine's predecessor, Terry Francona, and for good reason. He managed the club to two World Series titles, in 2004 and 2007. That fondness was evident during the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park on April 20, when he received the loudest ovation of all former members of the Red Sox.

"Every manager is different. Every manager has his own mentality, and Bobby's mentality is a winning mentality. If you don't agree with it, then you're not ready to win games -- period," says David Ortiz. Mark L. Baer/US Presswire

Valentine heard his share of boos at the start of the season, but it seems like he's beginning to win over his players and the fans despite the fact that the Red Sox remain in last place in the American League East.

Valentine earned some fan credibility last Friday when he made a comment about the Tampa Bay Rays' Luke Scott, who was hit by a pitch during the game and then started a bench-clearing scrum. Earlier this season, Scott called Fenway a "dump" and Red Sox fans "arrogant, ruthless and vulgar."

"Maybe it was the Ghost of Fenway Past remembering he badmouthed all our fans and our stadium or something, and just directed the ball toward his leg," Valentine said.

That comment, along with a few others from Valentine during the Rays series, did not go over well in the Tampa Bay clubhouse. Those statements did resonate in Boston's, however.

During that scrum, Valentine was right in the middle of it and his coaching staff, including bench coach Tim Bogar and pitching coach Bob McClure, took offense to some negative comments directed toward their boss.

The Red Sox responded with a big win on Saturday after Jarrod Saltalamacchia's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Valentine said a moment like that could help galvanize a team.

With Monday's 7-4 win over the Detroit Tigers, the Sox have now won 12 of their past 17 games and there seems to be a sense of synergy finally forming on and off the field between Valentine and his players.

"I certainly hope so," Valentine said. "We've been together for a little while now and we've been through a lot. It hasn't been an easy go of it, and I think they've seen my colors and they know I'm standing behind them and I'm standing with them. The only thing I want them to do is enjoy it and be as good as they can be. Hopefully, there's a little bonding coming."

Winning usually has that kind of effect on a team.

"I think the best reflection of a manager is the effort on the field and the team's execution," said Red Sox GM Ben Cherington. "We are playing with grit and with a sense of purpose, and Bobby is a big part of that."