Liriano - Does he suck?

[HighNOutside]

During the run-up to the season Grey had been touting Mr. Francisco Liriano as a fine pitcher to take a chance on*. But it appears that he's falling into a pattern - he does fine during the first run through the lineup and then starts having trouble starting in the 4th inning.

Today was no exception. No hits through the first 9 and then suddenly bam bam bam bam bam 5 in a row. Is this a coachable problem, or has Liriano retreated into mediocracy?

* not bashing Grey here, since I've been doing splendidly with other recommendations like Harang, de la Roas and G Gonzalez.

[jebusfreek666]

I don't know, but he is my "ace". My era so far this year is laughable.

[hammerman86]

i have him in 2 of my 3 leagues, and this is not good, time to start benching him until he gets it together. i mean if you have a 10 era against the royals then.....

[Bourne]

i have him in 2 of my 3 leagues, and this is not good, time to start benching him until he gets it together. i mean if you have a 10 era against the royals then.....

the royals are being royals. High hits, good April, bad season. Cleveland and KC, won't win the al central. He won't win a cy young this year but he can still be a great sp2 and okay sp1

[reveries]

I have him in another league and he doesn't look great so far, but I found some positives to focus on. He didn't walk anyone and he had 15 groundouts to 2 flyouts today. I'm going to be benching him until further notice, but I'm definitely not giving up on him yet.

[MStark]

Nope. Worst luck ever. At least today.

I watched the game on MLB Network. Liriano was perfect through 3 and looked great. Then in the fourth, Royals batters went nuts, swinging at great pitches in great spots with sick movement. And 8 batters connected for 7 singles and a double. In minutes, 6 runs and an exploded ratio.

Liriano came back to pitch a perfect 5th, then was pulled after giving up his first walk of the game to lead off the 6th. Reliever comes on and gives up a double that was misplayed by the CF and the relay man. Run scored, charged to Liriano.

I don't know if any of you play poker, but it was like having 3 aces cracked by runner-runner over and over again.

[chlenko]

So is he a buy-low opportunity?

[AdmiralTrey]

I'm definitely looking at buying low on him. This is a guy that, in his two healthy seasons, put up these numbers:
2006 - 12-3, 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 144 K's in 121 IP
2010 - 14-10, 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 201 K's in 191.2 IP

It took him three years to get his groove back, which is longer than most, but he DID get it back. I can't imagine him just randomly forgetting how to pitch over the off season. He's only 27 years old, and if anything still has room to grow.

He's had a poor start, well, OK, a poor THREE starts, but that isn't enough to indicate a major problem yet.

[cpomar]

in a league w/no bench, he's pitched my ERA and WHIP to the bottom of the standings in the first 26th of the season. Yes, I know it's early.

But, our FAAB opens up tonight. Would you drop him for one of these cats at $5?

Ogando
Walden
Holland

Or just suck it up and wait for his luck to improve?

[LMack]

If there is one positive trend with Liriano, it's that his walks have decreased from 5 in his first start, to 3 in his second start, to 1 today. Provided this trend continues, he should have -1 BB's next game.