According to Dan Majors of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 24-year old Andrew Kurtz posted a message on his Facebook page aimed at team president Frank Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell. It read: “Coonelly extended the contracts of Russell and Huntington through the 2011 season. That means a 19-straight losing streak. Way to go Pirates.”

Not a big deal for the everyday Pirate fan, but Kurtz was employed by the Pirates – as a pierogi. A what? Kurtz is one of the 18 men who take turns entertaining fans by running around in a baked dumpling costume. Four costumed pierogies race around the outfield warning track in the fifth inning of every game at PNC Park and then exit into the ballpark seating area to greet fans.

Within four hours of his Facebook post, he received a call from Dan Millar, the Pirates’ mascot coordinator.

“He called as the game was going on,” Kurtz said. “He wanted to know what was up with my Facebook message. I told him I didn’t mean anything by it, and he was like, ‘Well, why’d you put it up?’ I said, it was just an opinion. But he took it negative and talked to his boss. And then they wanted me to turn my uniform in.”

“I apologized and asked for a second chance, but he did not take my apology,” Mr. Kurtz said. “He was like, ‘Nah, it’s too late.’ ”

“I think it was very unfairly done,” Kurtz mother said. “If they thought that what he said was wrong, they could have just said, ‘Look, take it off Facebook.’ And then let it go.”

Kurtz gets paid $25 per race and the job includes tickets to games and $50 for public appearances. According to the Associated Press, an independent minor league team, the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things, immediately offered Kurtz a job as one of its racing hot dogs.