Hot corner has been ice cold for the Red Sox; what's next?

BOSTON -- The hot corner has gone cold. Frigid, actually.

Through 34 games, the Boston Red Sox already have used six third basemen. And between them, Pablo Sandoval, Brock Holt, Marco Hernandez, Steve Selsky, Josh Rutledge and Deven Marrero have posted a .574 OPS, dead last in the majors at the position. Worse yet, they have combined for 12 errors, four more than any other team's total at third base.

Such incompetence is untenable in any circumstance. But for a post-David Ortiz era Red Sox team that knows it won't score as many runs without its retired designated hitter and is counting more than ever on pitching and run prevention to win games, it's particularly damaging.

So, as the Sox return…