Jonny Gomes has some strong opinions
The Red Sox are in first-place. The Red Sox have won five straight. Tyler O'Neill just hit two more home runs has a better OPS than anyone in baseball other than Mookie Betts.
Alex Cora's club couldn't ask for anything more ... until they could.
While the resiliency of these Red Sox shined through in claiming an 8-6 win over the Angels Friday night in Anaheim - with Jarren Duran's eighth inning giving the Sox their lead back after blowing a four-run cushion - it was impossible to ignore the dark cloud that started hovering in the fourth inning.
Trevor Story lying on the ground after making a diving attempt at a Mike Trout grounder, grimacing due to the pain in his left shoulder, was too much to just glance over. That's how important Story is.
Life without Story for an extended period of time will be perhaps one of the least-desirable scenarios for the Red Sox, for multiple reasons.
First off, Story has anchored the shortstop position defensively at a level the Red Sox haven't seen in some time. It has been well-documented how his presence not only offers security to the pitchers, but also to third baseman Rafael Devers thanks to more coverage of the hole between short and third.
Then there is Story's right-handed bat in the middle of the batting order. It is his job to not only protect protection to Devers, but supply the presence in and around the perceived big bats of Devers, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran and Masa Yoshida.
And, of course, there is the issue of potentially replacing Story.
The Red Sox' short-term backup plan is Pablo Reyes, who came in for the injured shortstop Friday night. But few Reyes as a long-term solution. The likely move is to switch Ceddanne Rafaela from center field to shortstop, where he excelled in the minor leagues. That, obviously, thins out the outfield, with the Red Sox needing to lean on the struggling Wilyer Abreu more until Rob Refsnyder's return.
While Vaughn Grissom - who continues to come back from a groin injury - did come up as a shortstop, it is believed his skill-set is better-suited to second base. And in terms of solutions from Triple-A Worcester, Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton represent the most intriguing options.
Both Gonzalez and Hamilton have major league experience and are on the 40-man roster, although Gonzalez has only played six of his 83 big league games at shortstop. The former University of Miami star is, however, tearing up Triple-A during this first week, totaling a 1.414 OPS after his first five games.
There is also the on-and-off-the-field leadership Story presented, which hasn't lost on the Red Sox' manager, coaching staff or players.
All in all, there is a lot to like about what the Red Sox have presented through their first eight games. There is one huge exception: The image of Story painfully walking off diamond.