The Red Sox had just lost for a second straight time to the team it simply has to find a way to beat, the Blue Jays, having now scored eight runs over their last four games in a 3-2 defeat at Fenway Park.
Everything just felt off. And the inability to score runs was just part of the problem.
Where Alex Cora usually sat postgame, in the Fenway Park interview room, resided bench coach Will Venable. It was his job to suddenly explain what was what, having to take over for the COVID-stricken Cora.
After Venable came Tanner Houck, who had usually represented the positive momentum of the Red Sox during his big-league tenure. And while his performance was once again reason for optimism (giving up 3 hits or fewer in his second straight start), the postgame question-and-answer was heavy with vaccination (or lack thereof) talk.
The inside-out world of the Red Sox would be including Houck pitching out of the bullpen Sunday since he wasn't going to Toronto due to his choice not to get vaccinated.
"Right now it’s a personal choice and I’m not going to comment on it anymore," Houck said of next week's absence. He added regarding the backlash, "I’ve tried to stay away from it no matter what side of the fence you're on there are always going to be positives and negatives but I've got a job to do and focus on what I’ve got to do."
A brief time later, with few other players to highlight from the day Toronto Kevin Gausman decided to dominate, de facto captain Xander Bogaerts stepped in front of the assembled media in the locker room.
There wasn't much for Bogaerts to say. Gausman was really good. The Red Sox' offense continued to struggle. And now, they were hitting the road to play two teams most believe are the iron of the American League, the Rays and Jays.
Oh, and there was that question about the awkwardness of having to right the ship at Rogers Centre without at least a few of his teammates due to the vaccination issue.
"I mean, obviously, you want everyone to be there, your whole team, teammates," Bogaerts said. "It’s a personal decision and you can’t force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. … You try to convince but it’s everyone’s own choice."
A manager with COVID. Players who can't get into Canada. Bats that don't hit. A lineup that doesn't score runs. This all wasn't part of the season preview when the season kicked off in New York two weeks ago.
The Red Sox have the fifth-fewest homers in the majors (10), while having still attempted just one stolen base.
Their go-to guy in the lineup, Rafael Devers, has come back down to Earth a bit, managing just two hits in his last 17 at-bats. Another key piece of the middle-of-the-order equation, J.D. Martinez, is temporarily sidelined due to an abductor issue. And the feeling of futility isn't helped by the lineup going 5-for-42 with runners in scoring position over the last four games.
The fortunate fact for the Red Sox is that the offensive issues are rooted in downturns by proven performers. And, other than the struggling Nick Pivetta, the pitching staff - both starters and relievers - have done a whole lot more good than bad.
But as we head toward the final week of the first month, very little of this was part of the blueprint.
Welcome to the uneasiness of your 2022 Boston Red Sox.
