Sometimes Cinderella doesn't want to go to the ball

Well, she wants to go, but not if it means working too hard. I mean, she's happy to go but not if she has to do her own hair. Or iron her own dress. Or learn anything about etiquette.

That's how the story goes if Cinderella is played by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Playing in a weak division, they find ways to lose. Actually, it is worse than that: they refuse to do the little things that win games. Bad base running, relievers who can't throw strikes, pinch-hitters who can't hit, hitters who strike out with the winning run on on second.

If they played smart baseball, they could be pressing the Brewers in the division race. Instead, they are mired in their fifteenth consecutive season of failure and frustration.

The surprising thing is that they still have paying customers in the stands.

Or maybe that is the problem. Why try to put out a good product if people will buy the same old crap you always sell.