It would be easy to suggest that because the Red Sox are through with their visit to Tropicana Field -- their own personal House of Horrors -- until September, that things are naturally going to improve for them.
Easy, yes. But how rooted in reality is that thinking?
Certainly, the four-game series which mercifully concluded Thursday afternoon with yet another loss, was the result of poor timing on the Red Sox' part. They happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They've long struggled at The Trop, and playing the Tampa Bay Rays there now is akin to tying oneself to the railroad tracks.
You know the outcome is going to be bad. You just hope you can figure out a way to survive being run over.
The Sox limped out of town having gone 0-4 while being outscored 26-12. At times, it didn't feel that close. Thursday's 9-3 loss -- though you wouldn't know it by the final score -- probably represented their best chance to steal a win from the surging Rays.
The Sox had the benefit of a mid-game lead and, thanks to an injury to Tampa Bay starter Jeffrey Springs, were into the Rays bullpen early after Tampa had had to use five relievers the previous night. A victory, however modest in the context of a four-game set, actually seemed within their grasp.
Then reality struck. Corey Kluber hit a fifth-inning wall, and the relentless Rays lineup sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven times. Order had been restored and the Rays went on to cruise to an easy 9-3 win.
So, yes, adieu to the Trop for another five months. The Red Sox won't even have to play Tampa Bay again until June. But if you're thinking that their troubles can be left behind in St. Petersburg, you're likely deluding yourself.
The Rays, who've already opened up an eight-game lead in the division, are not, we can reasonably report, not going to stay undefeated for the season. It only looked that way as they were mauling the Red Sox all week. And while it can be argued that the series captured an unstoppable object having its way with a very movable force, the Rays dominance actually served to magnify the Red Sox shortcomings.
That plan the Red Sox had to transform their offense from one dependent on power to one reliant on putting the ball in play? The Rays have long ago mastered that
The deep bullpen which can match up with any lineup and produce one high-end velocity arm after another? Tampa's been doing that for years, too.
So, naturally, by comparison, the Red Sox were exposed in these four games. Their roster isn't close to as versatile. Their defense isn't nearly as athletic. And goodness knows, though the Rays weren't projected to mash like this, the Sox can't begin to approximate Tampa Bay's power, which has produced a stunning 32 homers over the first 13 games.
But even having done their penance with their visit to the Trop, the Red Sox' troubles don't end.
Over the next 37 games, the Red Sox play 24 games against teams which qualified for the playoffs last year. Of the remaining 13, 10 others are against teams currently leading their respective divisions.
The starting rotation, a key to keeping the team competitive and in games, has compiled a 6.71 ERA, third-worst in MLB. The team's two veteran starters, Chris Sale and Corey Kluber, are a combined 0-5. The former's command seems to come-and-go from inning to inning, and the latter has shown a propensity for hitting the wall in either the fourth or fifth innings.
Yes, reinforcements are on the way. But as Garrett Whitlock reminded everyone Tuesday night, there's likely to be some inconsistency for a while as pitchers build arm strength and get acclimated. Brayan Bello will be a welcome addition, but expectations should be modest at the outset. As for James Paxton, who knows what to expect from someone whose workload the last few years makes Sale look like an innings-eater.
The bullpen has been better, but how long will that last if starting pitchers don't start getting into the sixth or seventh at least occasionally? The prospect for overuse of the relievers is real, and it doesn't help that it looks like Zack Kelly, who had been an effective low-leverage weapon, won't be contributing for a while, if at all all after leaving with what seemed like a major elbow injury Tuesday night.
The offense, which had done a better job making contract until meeting with the Tampa Bay buzzsaw of a staff -- resulting in an average of almost 11 strikeouts per game -- is capable of more, and there were signs that both Justin Turner and Kiké Hernandez had broken out of slumps in recent days.
But even a more consistent contact-first approach won't make up for the fact that the Sox aren't equipped to slug with many teams. With Adam Duvall likely sidelined until late June, there will be even more pressure placed on Rafael Devers to carry the offense.
Saying goodbye to the catwalks, D.J. Kitty and infernal horn that sounds whenever the Rays homer is a good thing for the Red Sox. Too bad they can't leave all of their troubles there, too.
As the Sox boarded their return flight to Boston Thursday, it's doubtful they could fit all of their issues in the overhead compartment.