Coonelly has three messages for Bucs fans on Presidents' Day
The Pirates take pride in an admirably well-rounded organization, their excellence on the field at last matching their excellence in the community.
In keeping with that model, club president Frank Coonelly offered a trio of diverse Presidents' Day messages to Buccos fans:
• "This is an exciting week for baseball fans everywhere, as 'Pitchers and catchers reporting to camp' are among the sweetest words that a baseball fan can hear. Of course, Pirates fans are especially eager to see the Bucs report to Bradenton this year because our fans, appropriately, have very high expectations for the 2015 Pirates. We have knocked on the door for two years and believe that we have the pieces in place to take the next steps of winning our division and seeing how deep we can get in the playoffs. There is not a player, coach or staff member who is satisfied by just making the playoffs. Like our fans, we want much more -- and we cannot wait to get started.
• "... Presidents' Day is a perfect time to reflect upon the appreciation that we have for the advances this country has made because of the leadership of the great presidents whom we celebrate today. It is, therefore, appropriate for the Pirates to reflect upon the tremendous appreciation we have for the very best fans in baseball. We dug ourselves out of a deep rut only because we have an incredible group of loyal and passionate fans who believe in this team and what we stand for. Without our fans' record support over the last two years, we could not have accomplished any of the positive steps forward that we have taken. We work every single day to earn our fans' trust and to show our genuine appreciation for the trust that they have placed in us.
• "... We reflect this Presidents' Day on the very special opportunity that we have to help others. Serving others in the community, particularly those in need of a helping hand, was a part of the fabric of each of the great presidents whom we honor today. At the Pirates, we are blessed with the capacity and the desire to make a difference in the lives of so many others. As we head to Bradenton, we do so with a renewed vigor for service to others at our Southern home in Florida and here at our year-round home in Pittsburgh."