Week 16

Record: 59-38, .608, 0 games back
Position: 1st place (7 games ahead of Chicago)
Runs Scored: 481 (3rd in NL)
Runs Allowed: 394 (3rd in NL)
Defense: .696 (3rd in NL)
Power Ranking: 118.5 (3rd in ML)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic, Fan Interest: 69/100
Last Week (3-0): 3-0 vs. COL

• Jed Lowrie has agreed to a 2 year contract extension with a team option for a 3rd year that could total $22.5 mil.
• 7/25: PIT 4, COL 3 - Liriano earned his ML leading 13th win of the season while posting a quality start (6 IP 3 ER). Wallace hit a solo HR and McCutchen hit a 3 run shot to provide all of the offense while Marinez earned his 3rd save of the season in the 9th.
• 7/26: PIT 6, COL 4 - Our prospects were bleak as Jonathon Niese had 1 hit us through 7 innings but Marte came up with the bases loaded and 2 out in the 8th and smacked one over the right field fence to give us a 2 run lead. Burnett had his worst start of the season (6 IP 4 ER) but Herrera earned his 10th save in the bottom of the 9th.
• 7/27: PIT 5, COL 3 - Castro pitched well (6 IP 3 ER) despite giving up 2 ER in the bottom of the 6th. Brett Wallace put us a ahead in the top of the 8th with a 2 run blast and Marinez earned his 4th save of the season in the bottom of the 9th.

The series sweep of the NL west leading Rockies was pretty sweet considering that we came from behind in all 3 games and thanks in large part to our bullpen which did not give up a single ER in the series. That leaves us 6-0 against the Rockies for the season and it makes me feel pretty good if we meet up with them in the playoffs.

Who's Hot: Starling Marte Player of the Week
Who's Not: No One

Next Week: 4 @ SF, 3 @ SD

News from around the league:

7/22: The Mariners have acquired 29 year old reliever Bobby Parnell and 22 year old minor league LF Stephan Sabol and $2.11 mil. in cash from the Mets in exchange for 27 year old LF Eric Thames.
7/22: The Royals have acquired 27 year old reliever Ryan Kussmaul from the White Sox in exchange for 19 year old minor league 3B Travis Demeritte and 22 year old minor league 3B Nicholas Cuckovich.
7/22: The Rangers have acquired 31 year old reliever Jim Johnson from the Brewers in exchange for 18 year old minor league RF Jairo Beras.
7/23: The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 25 year old 1B Matt Adams from the Cardinals in exchange for 29 year old SP Wei-Yin Chen.
7/24: The Astros have acquired 31 year old SP Ricky Nolasco from the Marlins in exchange for 19 year old minor league C Ronnie Healy, 19 year old minor league 3B Dawel Lugo, 19 year old minor league 1B Bryce Harman and 19 year old minor league 2B Victor Tavarez.
7/25: The Nationals have acquired 27 year old 1B Yonder Alonso from the Padres in exchange for 22 year old LF Jared King.
7/26: Ben Zobrist (TB) is out 2 weeks with a strained abdominal muscle.
7/27: The Detroit Tigers have acquired 28 year old SS Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians in exchange for 35 year old 1B Victor Martinez who will be coming back to the team who originally drafted him and 20 year old LF Danry Vasquez will also be going to Cleveland.

AL Player of the Week: Matt Joyce (TB) 6-10 3 HR 4 RBI 3 RS
NL Player of the Week: Starling Marte (PIT) 7-10 2 HR 6 RBI 4 RS