Pirates Fire Pierogi, End Losing Streak

We’ve ripped on the Pirates a number of times for a number of reasons. A few years ago their fans had a walkout to protest the ineptitude in the organization. Between not having a winning season since 1992 and trading away all their talented players, the fans have been given a lot of reasons to be unhappy. The Pirates also were riding a 12-game losing streak until Saturday night, and they got a heap of negative press for firing one of their pierogis recently, as I found out reading Mondesi’s House. No joke.

Andrew Kurtz is one of 18 people who dresses up in a pierogi costume and runs in the race the Pirates hold at PNC Park every home game. The Pirates fired Kurtz for negative comments he posted about the team on his facebook page, so Kurtz’s mom went crying to the newspaper about the situation. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, here’s what Andrew Kurtz said on his facebook:

Coonelly extended the contracts of Russell and Huntington through the 2011 season. That means a 19-straight losing streak. Way to go Pirates.”

It’s hard enough running an organization where you haven’t won since ’92 and you’re in the middle of a 12-game losing streak. It’s even harder to break that spell and turn things around when you have pissant pierogis ripping management and creating even more negativity within the organization. People may be laughing at the Pirates because the story is humorous and petty, but I think they did the right thing. It’s funny that they fired a pierogi as if that would be the answer to their problems, but the guy asked for it. Maybe things will work out for him running hot dog races at minor league parks.

Sources:
Pirates’ PR Nightmare Continues with Pierogi Dismissal [Mondesi’s House]
Out at the plate: Pirates dump outspoken pierogi [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]