Xander Bogaerts is struggling. That was put on display in the Red Sox' 8-4 loss to the Twins at Fenway Park Friday afternoon, with the shortstop going hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times.
So, where did that lead the questions to Alex Cora after the home-opening loss? To Bogaerts' contract, of course.
"That’s a question for Xander. I don’t know," Cora said when asked if he thought the drama involving Bogaerts' contract was impacting his on-the-field play. "They go through stretches like this. He got three hits in the first game, went 3-for-5, so I don’t know. I don’t think that’s the case I think it’s just right now he’s not seeing the ball and is chasing pitches."
This kind of conversation, however, will continue to be thickly entrenched in everything the Red Sox do. That's their lot in life.
Rafael Devers hits a home run - as he managed with a two-run shot in the eighth inning - the third baseman's value goes up. Bogaerts, or other free-agents-to-be such as Kiké Hernandez, struggle. That uncertainty must be weighing on them.
This time, even with all the pomp and circumstance that went along with Opening Day and the celebration to honor Jackie Robinson, Bogaerts was hit with more contract talk as early as 10:30 a.m. thanks to a report from two days before about what the Red Sox offered him.
"I saw it," Bogaerts said. "You’ve got to talk to my agent (Scott Boras) about that. I don’t want to get into it. … I won’t comment on that."
But while the players dance through the raindrops thanks to the contract-induced clouds, Friday also offered some more reminders that only a solid stretch of wins will shake.
The Red Sox' room for error might be a bit slimmer than some anticipated.
While Nathan Eovaldi would seem to represent some certainty, there is a bit too much of the unknown in this pitching staff right now to suggest this team is a contender to win the American League East. Can it happen? Sure. But the group that is currently constituted is a bit too close to the 'Five Aces' vibe of 2015.
Seven years ago, you could certainly made the case for the likes of Clay Buchholz, Wade Miley, Joe Kelly, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson to be the best versions of themselves, which would have been plenty good enough for a run to the postseason. But the team's unwillingness to pay for certainty - most specifically, Jon Lester - turned the Red Sox down the wrong road.
Not to say that is going to happen this time around, but Nick Pivetta's two-inning outing was the kind of bucket of cold water that makes everybody realize that other than Eovaldi, Garrett Whitlock and perhaps Hansel Robles, benefit of the doubt is going to have to wait.
"You are going to go through stretches like this. You’re going to have guys who are on and guys who are going to be off," said Cora of Pivetta. "It’s early in the season and everyone sees the small sample size, but in the end, you give a guy 30 starts and we feel confident he’s going to be a good pitcher for us."
There is a good chance of that happening. Same with Tanner Houck. And both Michael Wacha and Rich Hill offered positive vibes in their respective starts.
But this can also turn in another direction, one which we witnessed against the Twins.
The contract talk likely isn't going to go anywhere. That's the Red Sox' lot in life. But their goal is to limit the discomfort that comes with such drama. And the only way you can do that is answer some of the questions that popped up Friday afternoon.
Simply put, playing much better than they did this time around is non-negotiable.