Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles signaled an end for the Red Sox' road trip, as well the final game in a stretch that had them playing 19 consecutive days.
Thursday offers an off-day and a chance to re-set before the Sox begin a homestand and another portion of the schedule that has them playing 10 games in 10 days starting Friday.
All of which makes it a good time to examine some issues facing the club, all of which revolve around the infield:
1. How much leash does Triston Casas get?
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Casas is scuffling in his first full major league season. He was 0-for-3 with a strikeout Wednesday, dropping his average down to .139.
That would be slightly more palatable if Casas were getting on base more often, but alas, he's not. His on-base percentage is just .284.
Casas has a reputation for having a discerning eye at the plate, and indeed, his 15 walks lead all Red Sox players. But because his average is so low, his OBP is nowhere close to where it should be -- even with all the walks.
At times, Casas seems caught in between being passive and overly aggressive. In recent days, he's begun chasing pitches at the edges and beyond the strike zone -- a sure sign of frustration.
There are times, of course, when you see what the Red Sox see. In the series opener, he clubbed a homer deep to right field, showing off his power. And when he does barrel up pitches, he's capable of hitting hard, as his 70th percentile in average exit velocity illustrates. But those occasions have been too rare.
It's hardly unprecedented for young players to struggle in the first month -- or more -- in the big leagues. Dustin Pedroia famously looked completely over-matched in 2007, but a patient Terry Francona remained patient and was soon rewarded. Alex Cora, who ceded his spot at second when Pedroia arrived, would do well to exhibit the same confidence.
There's also this: it's not as if the Sox have a lot of options. If they sought other options at first, the only other choice would be to shift Justin Turner there. But then that would only create a hole at the DH spot that also lacks alternative choices.
And if you're thinking that Casas' first-month failings are proof that the Sox should have held onto Eric Hosmer, whom they designed for assignment, think again. Hosmer is slashing .224/.286/.328 with exactly one homer for the Chicago Cubs.
For now, the best bet for the Sox is to keep showing support for Casas, with the belief that he's going to figure things out.
2. What now at shortstop?
Only two weeks ago, the Red Sox, sufficiently concerned with the erratic play of Kiké Hernandez at short, installed Yu Chang as their more-or-less everyday shortstop. He started at the position eight times in the span of 10 games, and the Sox played their best baseball of the season, going 8-2.
After six errors by Hernandez in the first two weeks, Cora prioritized defense first at the position and Chang responded. And while he was inconsistent, he occasionally supplied some surprising pop, belting three homers among his first four hits of the year.
But with Chang now lost for the next six weeks because of a broken hamate bone in his left wrist -- surgery is scheduled Thursday -- the Sox have lost him as an option and the position is, for better or worse, Hernandez's again.
Over the last two games, Hernandez has looked more comfortable at short. It's likely the six errors in the early season were the result of Hernandez having not played there regularly for a while. (The decision to play the outfield in the World Baseball Classic in the middle of spring training when he should have focused on getting acclimated at short now looks even more suspect).
So what do the Sox have in Hernandez at short? In all likelihood, they have someone who lacks great range, but having gotten over the nightmare start, is probably not going to be committing multiple errors per week. It's not optimum, but for now, it's all the Red Sox have -- absent turning the position over to David Hamilton, who's off to a terrific start at Triple-A Worcester.
It seems the Sox don't want to rush Hamilton's ascension to the major leagues after less than a month of playing time in Triple A, which is understandable.
Unless, that is, Hernandez makes five errors in the span of eight games again.
In a perfect world, he would split time between center and second, his two best positions. But as we've seen, thanks to injuries, the Sox don't live in a perfect world.
3. Where can they hide Enmanuel Valdez?
This much seems obvious: not at second base.
Valdez has appeared in three games at the position -- two starts -- and committed three errors. And that doesn't count another miscue in which he was initially charged with yet another error, only to have the call changed by the official scorer.
Keep in mind these aren't tough plays being butchered. On Tuesday night, after coming off the bench to replace Christian Arroyo, he dropped a chest-high throw from the pitcher to cost the Sox a potential double play. On Wednesday afternoon, he failed to backhand a grounder that should have resulted in yet another double play.
It may well be that Valdez's bat will one day play in the big leagues. He's had good at-bats in limited playing time and when he swing is right, the ball does jump off his bat.
But the last week should convince the Sox of the obvious -- that Valdez can't be trusted in the infield.
Perhaps he'd be better off getting some time in left field at Worcester. But for now, Valdez has been so shaky that the Sox -- with Hernandez back at short -- have no choice but to go back to Christian Arroyo at second -- despite his atrocious start at the plate (.458 OPS).