2015 Dodgers review: Jim Johnson

The Dodgers' acquisition of right-handed relief pitcher Jim Johnson did not go quite as planned.

What went right

From Aug. 27 to Sept. 21, the right-hander put up a 1.74 ERA in 11 games.

What went wrong

Johnson was a well-intentioned acquisition — with a 2.25 ERA and 3.24 FIP in 49 games through July 29 with the Braves — but just didn't work out in Los Angeles in any way, shape or form. After allowing two home runs in 48 innings with Atlanta, Johnson allowed home runs in each of his first two appearances with the Dodgers.

Johnson allowed a run, two runs, and another run in his first three games with the Dodgers, then the wheels fell off in his fourth appearance, on Aug. 9 in Pittsburgh. Johnson entered with a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning and never finished the frame, allowing eight runs in a nine-run inning in a game the Dodgers would lose 13-6, with Johnson the unwitting symbol of Dodgers bullpen failure on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

Johnson was the first Dodgers relief pitcher to allow eight or more runs since Brian Falkenborg on May 19, 2004.

Even removing the eight-run outing against Pittsburgh, Johnson's ERA with the Dodgers was 6.50.

Johnson is one of 12 pitchers in Dodgers franchise history to have an ERA of 10 or higher, in at least 10 innings.

Only one Dodgers pitcher in 2015 allowed more runs in relief than the 22 allowed by Johnson, who was with the team for two months; Juan Nicasio, who was on the team all season, allowed 24 runs in relief.

2015 particulars

Age: 32

Stats: 23 games, 10.13 ERA, 5.01 FIP with Dodgers, 17 K, 6 BB, 18⅔ IP, -1.6 rWAR, -0.3 fWAR

Salary: $1.6 million, of which the Dodgers were responsible for roughly $585,000.

Game of the year

Johnson pitched two scoreless innings against the Giants on Aug. 31, keeping the game tied in the 10th and 11th innings in a game the Dodgers would win in 14 innings.

Roster status

Johnson's free agency was accelerated when he was desginated for assignment and released by the Dodgers on Oct. 14.