In Game 4 of the 2024 World Series, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, with a two-run lead in the eighth inning, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in the relief pitcher who had just been hit in the National League Championship Series a week earlier. brent honeywell jr.
In his final appearance against the New York Mets, Honeywell pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and giving up four runs.
His performance in Game 5 of the NLCS was unimpressive on the surface and could only be described as heroic despite the tragic circumstances.
With the game almost getting out of hand, Roberts brought in Honeywell, a turtleneck-wearing, screwball-throwing right-hander from Carnesville, Georgia. Honeywell is on his fifth MLB team and was actually released by the Dodgers earlier in the season. It is one of the most underrated and misunderstood roles a pitcher can play.
Honeywell went to eat an inning.
Although the Dodgers lost their pitching staff, especially their much-vaunted starting rotation, to injury, they relied heavily on their bullpen to get through the regular season and ultimately win the title.
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Coach Roberts has some of his most reliable bullpen arms in Alex Bashear, Evan Phillips, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopech, and Blake Treinen, and he deploys them in close games to protect leads and keep opponents at bay. He allowed the Dodgers’ batting lineup to turn around without any problems.
But with the game potentially out of reach, Roberts sent in Honeywell rather than “burn” one of his go-to bullpen arms.
As Honeywell later stated, his job was to “rescue dogs.”
The 29-year-old rewarded his manager with four innings of work, saving his high-leverage teammates, a.k.a. the Dawgs, having to play a game the team essentially already lost.
“That’s the job they asked me to do, and that’s what I wanted to do,” said an emotional Honeywell, soaking up celebratory champagne and beer. Dodgers reporter Kristin Watson In the locker room after the team won Game 6 of the NLCS. “It didn’t come out until it was needed – until then.” [Roberts] He took the ball out of my hands. ”
Dodgers relief pitcher Brent Honeywell pitches in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Friday, October 18, 2024 at Citi Field in New York. (Getty Images)
Honeywell said his teammate, third baseman Max Muncy, gave him words of encouragement as he came off the mound after pitching almost five innings. “He said I won Game 6.”
With Honeywell eliminating the Dodgers from Game 5, Roberts was able to utilize a fully healthy bullpen for the next game, going 5-for-10 in the series-clinching game against the Mets with a World Series ticket at stake. I won.
Muncie’s hunch was correct.
Muncy later said of Honeywell: Joint interview with David Vaseg“This man is a dog. No matter what position you put him in…he’ll get you. This man doesn’t care.”
Muncy also credited Honeywell with giving live batting practice to Dodgers star Mookie Betts in San Diego during the team’s hiatus, helping star Mookie Betts get his swing right.
“I threw them right down the middle and cranked them like they skimmed the ballpark,” Honeywell said with a laugh.
After an incredible 2024 postseason performance, Betts struggled in his past two playoff appearances, going hitless in 22 postseason at-bats against the San Diego Padres.
Betts finished the 2024 postseason with a batting average of .290, 18 hits, 4 home runs, and 16 RBIs.
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As Muncy said, Honeywell was willing to do whatever it took to help his team win, even if he made a bad impression.
“He’s one of the pillars of this team,” Muncy said. “He doesn’t get enough credit.”
In its only World Series appearance, Honeywell was again called upon to enter the game with a two-point lead.
In the eighth inning of Game 4 of the World Series, Honeywell was assaulted again, giving up five runs, including a three-run hit by Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres, and screamed into his glove.
Brent Honeywell screams into his glove after allowing a three-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning of Game 4 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 (Getty Images)
He didn’t receive much help from his teammates or the officiating staff, including a quick pop-up missed by catcher Will Smith, a bad throw to home plate by second baseman Gavin Lux, and a scratchy play at second base. . It was ruled safe, but on replay it appeared to have been called in error.
It lasted only one inning instead of the four-plus innings he had last time, and was mercifully terminated after throwing a World Series record 50 pitches in one inning.
Again, Honeywell saved the girls.
His statistical sacrifices and exposing himself to a barrage of online criticism may have given his team another win in the next game.
In Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was retired in the second inning after giving up four runs, including home runs to Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
With Flaherty unable to get deep into the game, Roberts once again turned to the bullpen to thwart the Yankees, forcing the offense to attempt a comeback.
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Six bullpen members, Banda, Basia, Treinen, and Kopech, along with Ryan Brazier and Brusdar Graterol, pitched over seven innings. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler made a surprise relief appearance in the ninth inning with a one-run lead, shutting out the World Series and leading the Dodgers to their eighth title.
When the dust settles and the streets of Los Angeles are swept with parade confetti, Honeywell will be a free agent, but his future is uncertain and his career prospects and reputation may have been tarnished by his last two appearances. There is.
But the 2014 second-round pick, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his short career, will continue to be an unsung hero on the 2024 World Series team, putting his ego aside for the greater good. His willingness to put up and his eccentricities on and off the mound make him a Dodgers fan that is sure to be loved. And he should never have to pay for his own beer in Los Angeles again.
He has already paid for it.
