Week 6

Record: 20-18, .526, 2.5 games back
Position: 2nd place (behind Chicago)
Runs Scored: 181 (4th in NL)
Runs Allowed: 172 (10th in NL)
Defense: .676 (11th in NL)
Power Ranking: 95.7 (13th in ML)
Owner Mood: Happy, Fan Interest: 66/100 (+3)
Last Week (2-3): 1-1 vs. CHI, 1-2 @ ATL

• Jose Tabata was diagnosed with an intercostal strain and will be out for 2 weeks. He was placed on the 15 day DL and LF Alex Presley was recalled to take his place.
• 5/13: CHI 6, PIT 5 - Liriano posted his worst start of the year (6 IP 6 ER) as we lost in spite of Russell Martin's awesome performance (3-4 2 HR 5 RBI).
• 5/14: CHI 2, PIT 6 - Lincecum pitched ok going 5 innings and allowing 2 earned but the bullpen shut the Chicago offense down. Chris Davis broke out with a 2 RBI double which led to a 6 run 6th and that is all we would need to secure the W.
• 5/16: PIT 5, ATL 16 - We were killed by the Braves as Wandy had given up 5 earned before he recorded the second out. Brandon Beachy was lights out until we got to him in the ninth. The Braves are a tough team to beat but the was a demoralizing loss nonetheless.
• Travis Snider left the game with a strained rib cage muscle. He will have to take it easy on defense for a couple days but will still be able to be used as a pinch hitter.
• 5/17: PIT 2, ATL 10 - Beat up again as Castro was knocked out after only recording 1 out and giving up 5 runs the bullpen didn't fair much better as Juan Francisco hit he 3rd HR of the series.
• 5/18: PIT 5, ATL 2 - Liriano was solid (8 IP 2 ER) doing the job of of an ace and putting us back in the win column after losing 2 straight. McCutchen led the offense going 2-3 with a HR and 3 RS. Watson worked the 9th for his 1st save of the season.

We were content with splitting the 2 game series with Chicago but the Atlanta series was a real eye opener as the Braves wailed away on us for 41 hits in the 3 games. It definitely causes some big worries on whether or not we can pitch to some of the better offenses in the league. I hate to say it, but I was just thankful that Liriano was able to get us out of Atlanta with out getting swept.

Who's Hot: Russell Martin: 8-21 3 HR 7 RBI 6 RS, Iwane Inoue 9 IP 1 ER 7 H 1 BB 4 K's

Who's Not: Andrew McCutchen 2-21 7 K's, the rest of the staff: 36 IP 41 ER

Next Week: 3 vs. COL, 3 vs. WAS

News from around the league:

AL Player of the Week: Ryan Flaherty (BAL) 13-26 2 HR 4 RBI
NL Player of the Week: Juan Francisco (ATL) 9-22 4 HR 9 RBI

5/15: Nick Markakis (BAL) Out 9-10 months with a torn posterior cruciate ligament
5/18: Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) Out 6 months with radial nerve compression
5/18: The Boston Red Sox have finalized a deal with All-Star pitcher John Lester that will extend his stay in Boston at least 6 years and pay him $84 mil.