The Boston Red Sox faithful welcomed Kyle Schwarber right away upon his arrival prior to the 2021 trade deadline.
Before the Sox’s 2021 ALCS run, Schwarber was acquired to invigorate their hitters, and he succeeded in that regard. Throughout the first 72 games of the season, he batted.253/.340/.570 with a.910 OPS while playing in the outfield for the Nationals.
For the Red Sox, Schwarber’s bat performed admirably both at Fenway Park and elsewhere. During 41 regular season games with Boston, he slashed.291/.435/.522 with a.957 OPS. In the postseason, he played the same role, hitting a home run in each of the Sox’s three series wins to advance to the ALCS. His nickname, “Kyle from Waltham,” immediately gained popularity.
However, following their ALCS elimination, the Sox let him go. Red Sox supporters worldwide, including Sean McAdam of MassLive, are still debating that choice.
After his accomplishment in 2021, Kyle Schwarber should have been a long-term member of the Red Sox.
KYLE SCHWARBER LEADOFF TANK 😳 pic.twitter.com/yJdMJsDINQ
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2024
In his most recent column, McAdam refers to Boston’s failure to sign Schwarber as “a mistake,” but harsher language might be required. Over his three seasons in Philadelphia, the slugger has averaged 44 home runs per season. For the Phillies, he has blasted 11 postseason home runs, including the game-winning blast against the Mets, their bitter rivals, in the National League Division Series.
Schwarber’s power would be ideal for Fenway Park’s layout, but he also hits for a lower average and walks a lot of people while still managing to reach base frequently. In 2024, he led the National League with 106 walks. In the past two seasons, he has walked at a rate that is in the 99th percentile.
One of the reasons the 2024 Red Sox were destroyed in the second half was their lack of offensive punch and consistency. If Schwarber had been a long-term Boston signing, he could have provided a much-needed boost to the team’s power and easily filled the role of designated hitter every day. Schwarber could have been a star and a fan favorite in the Sox lineup for years based on the way the fans responded to him in 2021.
The trailer for Meadowlark Media’s 2004 Red Sox docuseries on Netflix has been released.
Dan Le Batard disclosed in April that Meadowlark Media intended to release “10-20” documentaries over the course of the following two years.
The Comeback, which will launch on Netflix on October 23, is the upcoming one.
The 2004 Boston Red Sox, who defeated the New York Yankees 3-0 in the American League Championship Series to win the team’s first World Series since 1918, will be the subject of the three-part documentary. On Wednesday’s episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, a trailer for the project was released, providing fans with a sneak peek at what to expect from the much awaited series.
The Comeback, as seen in the teaser, will include a plethora of well-known Red Sox players, including as Kevin Millar, Theo Epstein, Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Terry Francona, and Johnny Damon, among others. Le Batard made it apparent that the inclusion of renowned New York radio DJ Mike Francesca and former Yankees manager Joe Torre was done on purpose.
“That might give the impression that you’re celebrating Boston sports,” Le Batard added. “No, I’m happy about the Yankees’ defeat.”
Regarding Meadowlark, The Comeback is the second feature-length production from the company’s documentary section, after Good Rivals (2022) which examined the rivalry between the men’s soccer teams in the United States and Mexico. As a component of its podcast and documentary series, “Sports Explain the World,” the organization has also created a number of shorts.
Another documentary previously announced by Meadowlark Media focuses on WNBA legend Diana Taurasi.
