Red Sox: 10 things to watch in the second half

7. No easy answer at short The instability of the shortstop position continued in the first half of the season, and it promises to carry over to the stretch run as well. With Julio Lugo (who had a mediocre first half, both at the plate and in the field) on the shelf for 4-to-6 weeks, Alex Cora and rookie Jed Lowrie are left to split the duties at short. Will either of them make an impact, or will the shortstop position be a void in the Sox lineup?

7. No easy answer at short


The instability of the shortstop position continued in the first half of the season, and it promises to carry over to the stretch run as well. With Julio Lugo (who had a mediocre first half, both at the plate and in the field) on the shelf for 4-to-6 weeks, Alex Cora and rookie Jed Lowrie are left to split the duties at short. Will either of them make an impact, or will the shortstop position be a void in the Sox lineup?
(Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)