New Pirates pitcher John Axford posts photo of himself in a pirate costume

Relief pitcher John Axford knows how to ingratiate himself with a fanbase. He just got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates? Here’s a picture of him in a pirate costume.

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The picture doesn’t appear to have been taken specifically for the occasion, but looks like it might be from a costume party or some previous event. So that means Axford is re-purposing his pictures of himself in a pirate costume.

Does the secondhand nature of the pirate costume picture change the way Pirates fans feel about Axford’s gesture, or do they appreciate it anyway?

Pirates fans probably don’t care that much about what John Axford does clothing- or pictures-wise, they just want him to get some people out and help the team get back to the postseason again.

Axford had 10 saves and a 3.92 ERA in 49 appearances with the Cleveland Indians before the waiver deal that sent him to Pittsburgh, so I guess Pirates fans can look forward to tolerable-but-not-spectacular pitching from the piratey-clad reliever. That will have to do.

John Axford is no Kent Tekulve.

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