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Astros acquire Francisco Liriano for Norichika Aoki & Teoscar Hernandez

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by J.R., Jul 31, 2017.

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  1. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    Aoki:

    I was surprised.

    Why?

    I've been keeping up with trade rumors. I never thought I'd be included.

    Are you disappointed?

    This is a team that I started ST & the season with, looking to go the postseason & win a championship. In that sense, I'm disappointed. On the other hand, I'm excited to go to a new team.

    Fisher:

    Nothing you can control. You just continue to show up everyday & do what you've been doing. If something changes, they'll let you know.

    This opens up a spot for you.

    I've been grateful for the opportunities up to this point. It's something where I'll continue to play as hard as I can & help this team win games.
     
    #81 J.R., Jul 31, 2017
  2. smitheygerard

    smitheygerard Member

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    It's weird bc even though I wasn't a huge fan of Aoki's game I do feel pretty bad for him. He was easy to root for.

    On the other hand, it probably opens up more ABs for Fisher and I'm thrilled with that.

    Hopefully Liriano can turn it around and find his 2015 form. Overall it's kind of a blah trade, but there is some potential upside.
     
    #82 smitheygerard, Jul 31, 2017
    vince likes this.
  3. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    You guys think fisher will be better than Aoki down the stretch .??

    Aoki isn't some bum . He has a pretty good OBP for the year .

    Fisher obviously has way more potential down the line , but he's a rookie .
     
    #83 snowconeman22, Jul 31, 2017
  4. mick fry

    mick fry Member

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    Hate it for Aoki but it's the nature of the business. Hope Liriano steps it up.
     
    #84 mick fry, Jul 31, 2017
  5. zeeshan2

    zeeshan2 Member

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    #85 zeeshan2, Jul 31, 2017
  6. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

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    Liriano vs. Lefties he would be expected to face in the postseason....

    Name.......PA....AB....H....2B....3B....HR....RBI....BB....SO....BA........OBP......SLG....OPS
    Brantley.......7......6......2......0.....0........0.......0.........1........3.......0.333...0.429....0.333...0.762
    Holt..............1......1.......1......0.....0........0.......0.........0........0.......1.000...1.000....1.000.. 2.000
    Moreland.....6......6......2......1.....0........1.......3.........0........4.......0.333....0.333....1.000...1.333
    Blanco..........3......3......2......0.....0........0.......0.........0........0.......0.667....0.667....0.667...1.333
    Heyward....22....17......6......0.....1........0.......1.........5........6.......0.353....0.500....0.471...0.971
    Harper..........9.....8.......2......0....0........1........2........1........2........0.250....0.333....0.625...0.958
    Gardner.....23....19......6......1.....1........0.......5.........4........3.......0.316....0.435....0.474...0.908
    Bradley Jr.....4......4.......1.....1.....0........0.......2.........0........0.......0.250....0.250.....0.500...0.750
    Ellsbury......13....12.......4.....0.....0........0.......1.........1........3.......0.333....0.385.....0.333...0.718
    Benintendi...3......3......1......0.....0........0.......0.........0........1.......0.333....0.333.....0.333...0.667
    Lind..............6......6.......2.....0.....0........0........0.........0........2.......0.333....0.333.....0.333...0.667
    Rizzo...........35...29.......5......1....0........1........3.........3........10.....0.172....0.314.....0.310...0.625
    Murphy........6......5.......1.....0.....0........0........0.........1........3.......0.200....0.333.....0.200...0.533
    Seager..........3......2.......0.....0.....0........0........0.........1........1......0.000.....0.333.....0.000...0.333
    Gregorius....6.......5.......0.....0.....0.......0.........0.........1........2......0.000.....0.167.....0.000...0.167
    Zimmer........0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Wade............0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Devers..........0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Utley.............4......4.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........2......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Pederson.....2.......2......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........2......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Bellinger......0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Goodwin......0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Stevenson....0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Jay.................0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Schwarber...0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Hermann.....0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Descalso......0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Lamb............0......0.......0.....0.....0........0.........0.........0........0......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
    Peralta.........6.......6.......0....0.....0.........0........0.........0........5.......0.000.....0.000.....0.000...0.000
     
    #86 PhiSlammaJamma, Jul 31, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2017
    awc713 likes this.
  7. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Your Tweety Bird dance just cost us a run

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    Liriano has had a long career as a SP. I hesitate to think too much on how he fared as a SP against these guys vs. as a RP...much less as a LOOGY, where he is even more focused. I'd rather take this year's overall sample as a RP
     
    #87 kaleidosky, Jul 31, 2017
  8. solid

    solid Contributing Member

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    This is a bit underwhelming. I just hope that the playoffs are not lost because of the lack of roster moves. I don't see the Astros overall pitching staff overwhelming anyone.
     
    #88 solid, Jul 31, 2017
  9. TheRealist137

    TheRealist137 Member

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    I would be bummed if I were Aoki too. To go from being on a world series contender to being on one of the worst teams in the Al. It's a wasted season for him.
     
    #89 TheRealist137, Jul 31, 2017
  10. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Your Tweety Bird dance just cost us a run

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    it's not like he signed here though. He got claimed after a DFA. No guarantees with that. I'd feel for someone a lot more if a guy like Reddick or Beltran got moved.
     
    #90 kaleidosky, Jul 31, 2017
  11. PhiSlamma15

    PhiSlamma15 Member

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    #91 PhiSlamma15, Jul 31, 2017
  12. bloodwings19

    bloodwings19 Member

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    I'm guessing they made this trade just in case they fall flat on a blockbuster trade. Liriano will start a playoff game, bank on it.
     
    #92 bloodwings19, Aug 1, 2017
  13. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    I do... if healthy. Our rotation is better than anything else available and shortens up in the postseason anyways. McHugh and Keuchel finished top 10 in Cy Young just two years ago, and McCullers was a pick of many to win this year. Fiers or Morton is not a bad 4th starter in playoff time. Just need to get healthy.
     
    #93 lnchan, Aug 1, 2017
    PhiSlamma15 likes this.
  14. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

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    One thing people underestimate about Aoki is his style of hitting. That slappy bat control could have been a valuable tool against power relievers in the playoffs. He is the type of guy who can foul off five or six pitches and really frustrate a pitcher. Maybe it was a luxury we couldn't afford because it seems he was thrown in for money purposes but I wish we could have kept him.
     
    #94 CometsWin, Aug 1, 2017
  15. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

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    I watched this and if the bar for media is this low I'm curious why I don't have my own show. Me and Nick could go around and around about stuff for at least two hours a day. HeyNow! can guest host whenever someone needs a day off. bobrek can do stat checks.
     
    #95 CometsWin, Aug 1, 2017
    Shroopy2, Hey Now! and Nick like this.
  16. T for 3

    T for 3 Member

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    I'm just speculating, but I remember reading somewhere that an interdivisional trade (like Darvish to Houston) would be very possible amongst two gm's, but the business interests (owners) might be what derail such a trade.

    I heard Craine on both radio and tv mention that they wanted to do more at the deadline, and there were deals in place. In both interviews he said (paraphrasing): "You know, sometimes two gm's work out a deal and then the owners block the deal." The way he said it really makes me wonder if Luhnow and Daniels had something worked out for Darvish? We all saw the Dodgers package. The Astros could have beaten it easily, without "gutting the farm "
     
    #96 T for 3, Aug 1, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2017
  17. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

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    He may have been referring to Britton and the Orioles. Apparently their owner is getting involved a little too much in personnel decisions.
     
    #97 CometsWin, Aug 1, 2017
  18. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    There's enough smoke to indicate it was Peter Angelos.

    Greenberg is more hands off, like Crane.

    Also, the fact that the Orioles never dealt anybody (but actually traded for somebody) shows a disconnect between what they should do and what actually happened (which usually happens because of an involved owner).

    Baltimore hates that the Nats are infringing on their market share.
     
    #98 Nick, Aug 1, 2017
  19. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...s-francisco-liriano-southpaw-solution-houston

    Houston Astros: B
    Liriano has a 5.88 ERA as a starter for the Blue Jays so this may seem like a strange pickup for the Astros, but they're in need of a lefty reliever and Liriano will undoubtedly move to the bullpen in Houston. Tony Sipp has been the one lefty in the Houston bullpen, but he has a 6.39 ERA and has allowed six home runs in 31 innings. Liriano has held left-handed batters to a .230/.254/.361 line with his fastball/slider combo, so he should move ahead of Sipp in the lefty pecking order and his stuff may play up even better in shorter stints.

    With Will Harris back on the DL, don't be surprised if the Astros make another bullpen move. Other than Ken Giles and Chris Devenski, much of the bullpen has been unreliable of late. Check out their bullpen ERAs by month:

    April: 2.91
    May: 3.88
    June: 5.14
    July: 5.79

    They could slide Brad Peacock back into the pen (he pitched four innings in relief of Dallas Keuchel the other day), but if Lance McCullers continues to struggle and they don't trade for a starter, he may have to slide back into the rotation.

    Aoki is part of the trade mainly to help offset Liriano's $13.67 salary. Aoki wasn't really doing much at the plate with a .272/.323/.371 line and the Astros have better options in left field, including Marwin Gonzalez, rookie Derek Fisher or Jake Marisnick if they want to play their best defensive outfielder.

    Toronto Blue Jays: B+
    They save a little money in dumping Liriano's deal, and they have arbitration rights to Aoki after this season, so they could conceivably have the veteran outfielder around for next year, or trade him. Getting Hernandez for two months of a bad starting pitcher? Thank you very much. Hernandez isn't going to be a star, but at minimum he's a fourth outfielder and profiles as a second-division starter. Given the state of the Blue Jays outfield, including injuries to Anthony Alford and Dalton Pompey, Hernandez should get a long look down the stretch and has a chance to start next season. He's hitting .279/.369/.485 for Triple-A Fresno with 20 doubles and 12 home runs in 301 at-bats. He's improved his plate discipline the past couple of years and has the range to play center.​
     
    #99 J.R., Aug 1, 2017
    PhiSlamma15 likes this.
  20. PhiSlamma15

    PhiSlamma15 Member

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    LOL
     
    #100 PhiSlamma15, Aug 1, 2017
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