Red Sox to be 1st MLB featured on Netflix series

SouthernBoSox

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View: https://twitter.com/bossportsgordo/status/1755245332558909830?s=46


MassLive Article

Partnering with Major League Baseball and Netflix, the Red Sox will be the subject of a multi-part series that will be released in 2025, likely during next spring training.


Throughout the upcoming year, the Red Sox, beginning next week in spring training, will be trailed by a documentary crew intent on capturing a behind-the-scenes look at their 2024 season. The crew will have complete access to the team and its players, coaching staff and front office.
“It wasn’t specific to the Red Sox,” explained Red Sox executive vice president and chief marketing officer Adam Grossman. “But just sort of the importance for this growing platform for sports fans. That was the summer of 2021. Baseball then went back and started to think through and concepting, ‘What does that look like for MLB? Was it about players? Is it about multiple teams? How does it all work?’ And they sort of landed on (the fact that) to really accurately portray a season, they should focus on one team and see if there would be a team that would be willing to raise their hand and do it.”
 

moondog80

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So time to cancel Netflix
Why? This seems like it can only be a good thing. It doesn't change the fact that I'm not happy about the offseason, but I don't think this is the reason things have gone the way they have.
 

SouthernBoSox

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I wonder how long this has been in the works. It becomes even more interesting that they have been very reluctant to add to the major league team.
 

Auger34

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Why? This seems like it can only be a good thing. It doesn't change the fact that I'm not happy about the offseason, but I don't think this is the reason things have gone the way they have.
EDIT: Wow..I misread the article. Never mind!
 

Auger34

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How would that affect the 2024 documentary?
Completely misread the article. I thought that the camera crew would be around for the 2025 season.

This now makes this offseason even more puzzling than it already was
 

6-5 Sadler

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I’m curious why they opted for a delayed release until 2025 spring training vs releasing episodes throughout the season like Hard Knocks. TBH unless things break unexpectedly well for the team this year, by the time spring training rolls around I’ll have already turned the page on the 2024 season. I acknowledge that Netflix is probably aiming this at a much broader audience than Sox fans but still seems like an odd choice to me.
 

jwbasham84

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I can only see this as a positive. Bringing more eyes to the team and hopefully more attention to the teams short comings, which will make the front office hopefully want to improve. Could be wrong. But having a positive outlook today.
 

SouthernBoSox

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I can only see this as a positive. Bringing more eyes to the team and hopefully more attention to the teams short comings, which will make the front office hopefully want to improve. Could be wrong. But having a positive outlook today.
If the team wins 70 games, looks completely defeated, and the front office looks incompetent, this will be a complete disaster.
 

Cellar-Door

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Is this the MLB version of Hard Knocks?
more like the Soccer ones from the sounds of it "Take us Home

I’m curious why they opted for a delayed release until 2025 spring training vs releasing episodes throughout the season like Hard Knocks. TBH unless things break unexpectedly well for the team this year, by the time spring training rolls around I’ll have already turned the page on the 2024 season. I acknowledge that Netflix is probably aiming this at a much broader audience than Sox fans but still seems like an odd choice to me.
SO they can edit it into a storyline of the season, these Netflix season shows tend to hagiography to build fanbases and sell merch.

I can only see this as a positive. Bringing more eyes to the team and hopefully more attention to the teams short comings, which will make the front office hopefully want to improve. Could be wrong. But having a positive outlook today.
Yeah, they won't be covering any shortcomings, it's going to be rose tinted to the max, it's about bringing revenue.
 

soxhop411

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more like the Soccer ones from the sounds of it "Take us Home


SO they can edit it into a storyline of the season, these Netflix season shows tend to hagiography to build fanbases and sell merch.


Yeah, they won't be covering any shortcomings, it's going to be rose tinted to the max, it's about bringing revenue.
No, Sox say they have no editorial control

Asked if the Red Sox insisted on any measure of editorial control, Grossman said the organization will not have “final cut” privileges.



“There are processes in place where we can discuss something that we thought was maybe unfair or not relevant to the story,” he said. “But we do not have ‘final cut.’ And we’re not making money off this. This is a marketing initiative. The club and the players are not making money. This is about exposure. And we recognize — this is not a Red Sox production. This is a partnership with MLB and it’s featuring Red Sox players and the Red Sox organization. But it’s not ours, and that’s sort of what you sign up for.”



One curious aspect of the series is the timing. Following two consecutive last-place finishes for the Sox and a largely inactive offseason, the Red Sox are hardly viewed as pennant contenders. This, then, would seem a strange time to invite the spotlight on a team that, by its own admission, is still building back toward respectability.
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/02/red-sox-to-be-1st-mlb-team-featured-in-all-access-netflix-documentary-series.html
 

TomRicardo

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I’m curious why they opted for a delayed release until 2025 spring training vs releasing episodes throughout the season like Hard Knocks. TBH unless things break unexpectedly well for the team this year, by the time spring training rolls around I’ll have already turned the page on the 2024 season. I acknowledge that Netflix is probably aiming this at a much broader audience than Sox fans but still seems like an odd choice to me.
There is going to be probably be way more editing as well as they are tailoring a story over a full season instead of just Preseason.

As for cancel Netflix comment, look this is what the FSG is going to do try to mitigate the financial ramifications of their poor talent management.
 

DadOfFenway

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so this has been in the works... and they have decided to field one of the weakest teams in memory (still time to turn it around) - but a real head-scratcher for me... do they plan on the second biggest comeback ever after '04 ? Soooo confused.
 

opes

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Netflix front office: Hey I got a great idea for a MLB special:
"A ragtag group of lovable idiots and their trials and tribulations of heartbreak and triumph. A special inside report of the 2004 Red Sox."

Nah lets do the 2024 Red Sox, they made alot of wily moves this offseason that no one will ever suspect. Sure, lets show it in 2025 too.
 

6-5 Sadler

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So who are the players we’re most interested in seeing featured? The team seems to lack the big personalities of past seasons.

For me it’s probably Casas (quirky guy, top prospect looking to break out), Duran (mental health struggles, trying to establish himself), and Bello (seems like a fun-loving guy who is also trying to take the next step). It will be interesting how they portray Devers…unquestionably the best player on the team but a guy who’s historically been pretty quiet (although he did seem to come out a little more last year).
 

Dummy Hoy

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As for cancel Netflix comment, look this is what the FSG is going to do try to mitigate the financial ramifications of their poor talent management.
I haven't been a Sox fans for years, so I really don't give a shit, but this is exactly correct. Rather than actually work on fixing the team, this is FSG trying to polish the turd that is the brand THE BOSTON RED SOX because $$
 

Southpaw12

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When I said I wanted streaming access to the Red Sox I was referring to NESN and watching the games…I’ll guess I’ll settle for a Netflix doc-series and show myself the door
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Yeah, the showing it in 2025 is weird to me. Especially if they aren't very good.

"Hey remember that team that won 78 games and was boring as hell? Well, how would you like to relive that gloriously meh season now? Huh? HUH?"
 

Jim Ed Rice in HOF

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Well the last time there was a Sox themed film happening in sort of real time it ended up with a reshoot with Fallon and Barrymore dancing on the field in St. Louis. The movie wasn't great but I dug the ending.
 

TapeAndPosts

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I'm down with a season of following Casas around.

We spend a lot of time thinking about their past and future performance and debating how bad the team is, I think it'd be nice to get to engage with the players as humans a little more.

Just hoping we don't have to endure another September collapse, but this time set to dramatic music with endless shots of players looking pensive
 

Ale Xander

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If the team wins 70 games, looks completely defeated, and the front office looks incompetent, this will be a complete disaster.
If is doing very little work here

I don’t see any positives here in the documentary. Is there really going to be anything that Bostonians/NESN viewers don’t know?

I just see the bad light shining on the team to fans of other teams.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Is this a spin off of Suits like a type of Law & Order or NCIS derivative. Because it will be far more interesting getting a window into FSGs corporate culture versus watching a stylized recap of a season many of us may be ignoring in real time.

Unless they have a miracle season, who watches it?
 

bluefenderstrat

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I haven't been a Sox fans for years, so I really don't give a shit, but this is exactly correct. Rather than actually work on fixing the team, this is FSG trying to polish the turd that is the brand THE BOSTON RED SOX because $$
Nobody at FSG thinks this is going to cover up for a bad team, come on. It’s just a Werner deal—Netflix was probably fishing around and he bit.
 

Ale Xander

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Is this a spin off of Suits like a type of Law & Order or NCIS derivative. Because it will be far more interesting getting a window into FSGs corporate culture versus watching a stylized recap of a season many of us may be ignoring in real time.

Unless they have a miracle season, who watches it?
Yankees and Dodgers fans will watch it to laugh at us
 

CoffeeNerdness

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A few things could make this an intriguing watch; the kids from the farm making their debuts, behind the curtain trade deadline business, or Cora getting axed. Also, Theo.

Netflix has some good sports docuseries. I have a feeling this will be more "Sunderland 'til I Die" than "Drive to Survive" though. The former being a peek into a team of loveable losers and their die hard fans, who can't help but step on their own toes and rakes and everything else step-on-able. Even though they aren't a premiere club it's still fun to see insider stuff like the transfer window or a coach getting sacked.
 

BeantownIdaho

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I hope that we have a team worth watching.... perhaps this deal will have some influence on putting together a competitive team for 2024 now that the world will get an up close look at the Sox.

This could be a huge success in terms of fandom and with potential to be cast in a positive light for future players.
This could be a huge failure in terms of fandom and with potential to be cast in a negative light for future players.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Yankees and Dodgers fans will watch it to laugh at us
if they have anything other than a miracle season, I don't even see Sox fans watching this.

Maybe I am wrong but if they go 90-72 or 81-81 or anything else and miss the playoffs, why would you watch this? Aside from the personal drama aspect - which we all know is heavily edited so probably not that authentic - what unique angle can it offer?

The Sox are covered by a legion of beat writers, bloggers, podcasters and places like here that follow virtually every aspect of the team. Its hard to see what sort of content is being missed and how interesting it will be at the start of an entirely new season.

That said if they make Casas a villain like they have on some of the other reality series, I may have to rethink my take. Triston as a modern day Puck feels must-see.
 

moondog80

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honest question... if you knew this was happening wouldn't you want somebody like at least Justin Turner? An amazing personality, loves the city, leader... meant for a staring role in something like this.
If this was the only concern, yes. But it's not even on the radar as far as roster building. Appropriately so.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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This isn't for Red Sox fans (at least not the diehards like us). This is MLB and the Red Sox trying to tap a new market.

I don't understand the rage. As long as it doesn't interfere with day-to-day operations (including dictating personnel decisions) or cause a distraction, who gives a shit if they film the season and make a show out of it? No one has to watch, regardless of how the season plays out.
 

jezza1918

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From a high level I cant understand how anyone can view this negatively? The bulk of us here spend hours a day on a website reading about and/or discussing this team. And now we get a season long documentary following them and some people seem upset about it?
 

Bread of Yaz

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Netflix is apparently combining the Sox show with their wildly popular F1 series. To be called "Full Throttle."
 

LogansDad

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From a high level I cant understand how anyone can view this negatively? The bulk of us here spend hours a day on a website reading about and/or discussing this team. And now we get a season long documentary following them and some people seem upset about it?
77757
 

TomRicardo

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This isn't for Red Sox fans (at least not the diehards like us). This is MLB and the Red Sox trying to tap a new market.

I don't understand the rage. As long as it doesn't interfere with day-to-day operations (including dictating personnel decisions) or cause a distraction, who gives a shit if they film the season and make a show out of it? No one has to watch, regardless of how the season plays out.
Because if the Red Sox can establish financial rewards for running a circus instead of winning team why the hell would they ever invest in winning again? It is why broadcast TV is just shows called "You think Celebrities' Siblings can Dance?".