Stupid Flippin' Pirates

Really? Really?

Some key points from this updated article

Together, Wilson and Sanchez, inseparable best friends on and off the field, formed a double-play combination rivaled in the Pirates' 123-year history only by the Groat-Bill Mazeroski duo of the 1960s. The current team's 111 double plays are the most in the majors, even though improved pitching has resulted in fewer baserunners to erase.
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Wilson and Sanchez had tried a double play of another kind two weeks ago, when they jointly approach the Pirates' management about getting contract extensions, each having expressed for months a strong desire to stay in Pittsburgh
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"We know how the fans felt about Jack and Freddy, and we know this will be unpopular," Huntington said. "Those two did so much on the field and in the community that they deserved to be loved by the fans the way they were."

So in summary, despite that these two popular players who also are strong contributors to the team are loyal and want to stay in Pittsburgh, Pirates management decided it was their job to spread the misery around.

And if next year, in the spring, we're hearing the same ol' "We could break .500 this year! We really could!"---well, I shall be very put out.

Football season can't come soon enough.