2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 16, 2018

The 2018 World Series lacked the first-game drama of the Dodgers' 1988 trip to the fall classic or the end-series excitement of the 1960 Fall Classic or even the 2017 seven-game nail-biter or the 2016 game seven extra innings, rain-delayed classic. But sandwiched right in the middle, in game three of the five-game series, was an 18-inning marathon in which Max Muncy tied the game for the Dodgers in the 13th, almost gave the Dodgers the win in the 15th, and ended the game with a blast in the 18th. That was the high point for L.A., returning to the series for the second straight season after a heartbreak seven-game defeat to the Astros in 2017. Boston, having racked up the most regular season wins in team history, beat the Yankees in the ALDS losing only once, the Astros in the ALCS losing only once, and the Dodgers in the World Series losing only once. It was a dominant Boston effort through the regular season and the postseason alike. This eight-disc set features all five World Series games and the team's clinching games form the ALDS and ALCS in their entirety. For a more dramatic World Series recap, check out the 2018 World Series Film.

The following games are included in the set:

Disc One
Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox
World Series Game 1

Clayton Kershaw vs. Chris Sale. The Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on hits by Betts, Benintendi, and Martinez. Matt Kemp and Manny Machado would contribute key hits to tie the score at two in the top of the third, but Boston would plate a third run in the bottom of the third, two more in the fifth (to break a 3-3 tie), and three in the seventh thanks to a pinch-hit three-run home run off the bat of Eduardo Núñez. Both starters -- Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner; and Sale, a top-six finisher every year since 2012 -- failed to pitch more than four innings. Final Score: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4

Disc Two
Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox
World Series Game 2

Hyun-jin Ryu vs. David Price. Boston would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an Ian Kinsler single following a Xander Bogaerts double. The Dodgers would take the lead, its first lead of the series, in the top of the fourth on a Matt Kemp sacrifice fly and a Yasiel Puig single. The Red Sox would strike back in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded walk and a J.D. Martinez two-run single. The Boston bullpen would hold the Dodgers scoreless for the remainder. David Price earned the win and standout closer Craig Kimbrel the save. Final Score: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2

Disc Three
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Game 3, Part 1

Rick Porcello vs. Walker Buehler. With the Dodgers coming home and facing a two-games-to-none deficit, the club turned to rookie starter Walker Buehler to turn the tide. He was facing 2016 American League Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello. Buehler pitched seven scoreless innings, surrendering two hits, walking none, and fanning seven en route to a no decision. Porcello pitched nearly as well in the 4.2 innings Alex Cora entrusted him with the ball, surrendering one run (a Joc Pederson homer in the bottom of the third) while walking one and whiffing five. In the top of the eighth inning, with Dodgers all-star closer Kenley Jansen on the hill, the Red Sox tied the game thanks to a Jackie Bradley, Jr. home run. Neither club would score again in the bottom of the eighth or in the ninth to send the game into extra innings and into the history books.

Disc Four
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Game 3, Part 2

Ironically, a series that ultimately offered little drama in its sum featured arguably the most dramatic single game in World Series history, an 18-inning marathon born of a low-scoring game that was tied at one after nine innings. The game would remain tied until the top of the 13th inning when Eduardo Núñez, following an ankle injury, hustled out an infield single that scored Brock Holt to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead and, it would seem, firm command of the series if starter-turned-reliever Nathan Eovaldi could shut the door on the Dodgers. In the bottom of the inning, Max Muncy would score the tying run following an Ian Kinsler miscue. The game would remain tied at two until the bottom of the 18th when Muncy, who nearly missed a home run earlier in extras, hit one out of the yard off the tough-luck loser Eovaldi, who otherwise pitched six terrific innings in relief. The game was longer than the entire 1939 World Series in which the Yankees swept the Reds in four. Final Score: Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2

Disc Five
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Game 4

Eduardo Rodríguez vs. Rich Hill. Rodríguez was making his first start of the postseason against the crafty 38-year-old veteran Hill who would outmatch his mound counterpart, going 6.1 innings and surrendering only a single run on a single hit and three walks, whiffing seven along the way. Rodríguez would surrender four earned in the bottom of the sixth, including a three-run blast off the bat of Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers took a commanding 4-0 lead with three innings to play, three innings from knotting the series at two games apiece and riding a ton of momentum into the final three. But Boston would not surrender. The team responded with three in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to one, another in the eighth to tie the game at four, and plate five in the top of the ninth to take a 9-4 lead. The Boston attack was led by Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce, both of whom hit critical home runs run the 9-run, three inning barrage. The Dodgers would score two in the bottom of the ninth, neither of which were enough to fully cut into Boston's lead. Final Score: Red Sox 9, Dodgers 6

Disc Six
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Game 5

Leading three-games-to-one, Boston was in the driver's seat and, having regained the momentum after the 18 inning marathon loss in game three with a big comeback to win game four, the team seemed primed to take home the title in Dodger Stadium. Returning to the mound for Boston was game two starter David Price, not game one starter Chris Sale. Price would face L.A.'s game one moundsman, Clayton Kershaw. Boston would jump out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run jack off the bat of Steve Pearce. The Dodgers would answer with one in the bottom of the frame when David Freese connected for a solo shot. That would be all the scoring the Dodgers could muster against Price, who twirled seven strong, allowing only the one run on three hits and a pair of walks while striking out five. The Red Sox would add tallies in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Ace Chris Sale would come in to pitch the final inning and secure the World Series victory for Boston. Final Score: Red Sox 5, Dodgers 1

Disc Seven
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
American League Division Series Game 4

Rick Procello vs. C.C. Sabathia. The Red Sox went into the game up two games to one in the best-of-five series following a 16-1 slaughter of their arch rivals in game three, handing the ball to 2016 AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello against veteran lefty C.C. Sabathia. The Red Sox would jump out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third with offensive contributions from J. D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Eduardo Núñez. Christian Vázquez would add a run to the lead in the fourth with a solo homer. Porcello would surrender a run in the bottom of the fifth before Alex Cora turned the game over to the Boston bullpen. Two Yankee runs in the bottom of the ninth off of closer Craig Kimbrel were not enough to overcome the Boston lead and prevent the Red Sox from advancing to the ALCS. Final Score: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3

Disc Seven
Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros
American League Championship Series Game 5

David Price vs. Justin Verlander. The defending champions were on the ropes and Houston turned to ace starter Justin Verlander. The veteran pitched six innings but surrendered four earned runs, giving up a homer to J. D. Martinez in the third and a three-run shot to Rafael Devers in the sixth. David Price pitched six scoreless. The Boston bullpen would surrender a single run in the bottom of the seventh but otherwise close the door on the game and the Astros dreams of repeating as World Series champions. Final Score: Red Sox 4, Astros 1

2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Despite the 720p resolution, the image is quite good, contextually, looking a little better than the OTA (over the air) broadcast. The Blu-ray features less macroblocking than the broadcast but is still problematic across various backgrounds, particularly solidly colored surfaces, such as the walls behind home plate. Detail is fair, with close-ups revealing adequate facial clarity and uniform material definition. Grass and dirt on the field and the various textures and objets in and around the dugouts enjoy modest sharpness and definition. The picture is flat on the whole and detailing at medium and long distances is fairly smeary. Colors fare well enough. Green grasses replicate the color well enough. Dodger blue and Boston red (and the red colored numbers on the front of the Dodgers uniforms) are nice and punchy. On-screen graphics are sufficiently sharp. This presentation does the job but cannot elevate the material much beyond what millions saw on Fox in October.

2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

2018 World Series Boston Red Sox features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack accompanying the Fox television broadcast. It sounds no different form a typical television broadcast presentation. The two channels image dialogue towards the middle but don't quite make it, leaving Joe Buck's and John Smoltz's play by play and color commentary floating a little off from center but closer than not. Clarity is just fine; vocal inflections, volume, and prioritization above crowd din are fine. The sound fluctuates quite a bit, seeming to rise and fall as a pitch comes in, perhaps to catch the sound of the ball cracking off the bat or smacking the leather catcher's mit. It's jolting and not particularly pleasant. Crowd din spreads to the sides and rarely finds any distinction beyond the occasional whistle or some strange prominent effects that present at the very ends of the stage, perhaps someone sitting right next to a microphone. Crowd sounds rise with a strikeout or a run scoring play and falls fairly even in between pitches.

The radio broadcasts (also DTS-HD MA 2.0) are much more pleasant. The Red Sox radio game call sounds the best of the four, competing less with ambient (and sloppy) crowd noise that rises and falls in pitch with each pitch. The crowd noise is complimentary only. The Dodgers radio call sometimes sounds tinny. Former Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Tim Neverette (Red Sox, now ex-Red Sox announcer...interesting story...Google it) and Charlie Steiner (Dodgers) are much more pleasing to listen to than Joe Buck, anyway, and that the sound quality is better is a plus. In the Spanish track, ambient crowd noise is a little more pronounced than it is for the English Dodgers or Red Sox calls but dialogue clarity is very good, again better than the Fox national broadcast. No subtitle options are included.

2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Each game ends with a few minutes' worth of postgame coverage from the team at MLB Network. The set does come with a booklet that details each game included with box scores and factoids. The main menu screen for each disc offers only selections to skip ahead by inning (top and bottom alike) and choose from any of the audio broadcasts.

2018 World Series Collector's Edition: Boston Red Sox Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Boston clinched every postseason series on the road, but Red Sox fans wouldn't care of the team won its games on another planet. This eight-disc set features seven full games, including an 18-inning marathon spread over two discs. It's a basic presentation, essentially the television broadcasts edited to remove commercials but otherwise a simple recreation of what fans watched on television. The video and audio qualities are fine given the source. No real extras are included. Since this series really had no drama beyond the 18 inning game, the recommendation is only for Red Sox fans.