True Blue LA podcast episode 2128: Do the Dodgers have enough pitching?

This week’s episode of the podcast takes stock of the state of the Dodgers pitching staff, especially with Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Danny Duffy on the injured list.

With off days this week and next, the Dodgers don’t necessarily have to worry about a fifth starter for a bit, but the need is looming, especially if one of those starters isn’t ready by then.

Also this episode, lots of trivia about previous Dodgers pitching staffs, Max Scherzer’s strikeouts, plus how Scherzer and Kershaw rank in various categories since 2008. And a story from Dave Roberts about Scherzer and Rick Honeycutt in the 2018 All-Star Game.

Thanks as always to producer Brian Salvatore for his work behind the scenes.

Dodgers rewind

Now that this year’s trade deadline is behind us, we look back at left-hander Brian Bohanon, a July acquisition by the Dodgers 23 years ago.

1998 was a tumultuous year for the franchise, with new ownership and lots of turnover both on the field and in the front office. Mike Piazza was traded. Manager Bill Russell was fired as was general manager Fred Claire. Tommy Lasorda was interim general manager, and sending Paul Konerko and Dennys Reyes to Cincinnati for closer and All-Star debutee Jeff Shaw was his first move. Acquiring Bohanon was his second.

A 27-year-old swingman who averaged only five inning per start in his eight major league seasons before coming to Los Angeles, Bohanon posted a 2.40 ERA in 14 starts for the Dodgers, averaging a shade under seven inning per start. The free agent to be parlayed that into a three-year contract with the Rockies that offseason. Bohanon had a 5.82 ERA in Colorado, but since this was during the steroid era and at peak Coors Field, his ERA+ was 98, almost exactly league average.

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Episode link (time: 56:38)