Last evening was the kind of baseball scene in Pittsburgh that would make George Will weepy. Sunbeams shimmered off of the rivers and Downtown buildings, creating a brilliant backdrop for the battle on the green and brown PNC Park baseball diamond.
The scent of fried peppers and sausages floated through the park's concourses, and fireworks capped off the evening for a capacity crowd.
So why did many of the fans in attendance feel like they were sucking a lemon? An Aug. 30 strike date had been set earlier in the day by the Major League Baseball Players Union.
"It's insulting," said Ellen Lalumere of Ross, while enjoying some pregame suds with friends at Castellano's Deli on the North Shore. "It's insulting because we come here to support them because we love the game. They don't understand that we're here for them."
Greg Fryer feels the same disenchantment.
"They're getting paid to hit a ball and run around the bases -- what more do you want? And they're striking for what? They're already millionaires," Fryer said.
Fryer's grandfather was a good friend of former Pirate Bob Veale and he's been a lifelong fan of baseball. He came to the game for an evening of male bonding with his sons Ethan, 6, and Simeon, 4.
"I work hard to support my family and my kids, pay for my home, and I'll spend over $100 for the three of us to come down here and eat ... The fans are getting ripped off," he said.
Decked out in loud gold "Leftfield Loonies" T-shirts, Bill Aguglia of West View and Vince Alario of Whitehall share a love of baseball and the Pirates that is skin deep, literally. The pair have matching tattoos on their upper biceps with the Bucs logo set between two pirate ships.
However, both men said the current labor situation has already diminished their enjoyment of the sport.
"I was a box-seat season ticket holder for nine years and gave them up this year not because of anything the Pirates did, but because I'm so [ticked] off at Major League Baseball," Aguglia said. "I'm a huge baseball fan and Pirate fan, but after another strike, I'll come back, but it won't be as much."
"This is a great atmosphere for baseball, but blue-collar fans in Pittsburgh can't afford to support this. Families come down here and spend $125 and the team is out of the game by the second inning sometimes."
Aguglia wasn't kidding. Last night, the Bucs were down 6-1 after three innnings.
Jim Trdinich, a spokesman for the Pirates, said the club is operating under the assumption that the season will not be impeded.
"We're going to continue to promote as if the entire season will continue to be played," Trdinich said.
The Pirates have 13 home games after Aug. 30. Trdinich said that no announcement would be made until after a strike starts, but the team will likely do what it did after the last work stoppage in 1994. Then, ticket holders were entitled to refunds or could exchange tickets for future games.
If that won't do, a Castellano's patron had an idea for replacement games, utilizing arguably the most recognizable figures at the ballpark:
"Let the Pierogies bat!"
Dan Gigler can be reached at dgigler@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2533.
Pirate fans cry foul at threat of baseball strike 
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