"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has come to the defense of Pittsburgh Pirates player Randall Simon, who faces a misdemeanor charge for using a bat to hit a woman dressed as a giant Italian sausage. . . . 'We empathize with Mr. Simon for wanting to put an end to that grotesque spectacle,' said an unnamed spokesman for PETA. 'Vegetarians and vegans in the crowd were doubtless offended by the sight of animal carcass forms dashing across the field.' "--ScrappleFace.com, July 10

"PETA has written to Milwaukee Brewers President Wendy Selig-Prieb, renewing its request that a fifth contestant be entered in Miller Park's famous 'Sausage Race' in light of the recent incident in which Pittsburgh Pirate Randall Simon attacked the 'Italian Sausage' with a baseball bat. Traditionally, four participants dressed to represent various meat sausages race from the outfield to home plate, and last year, PETA requested that a vegetarian 'soysage' be included in the race. Now, PETA recommends that, in order to set a nonviolent example to offset the recent brawls and 'beanings' in MLB, the Brewers should field a Sausage Race participant that does not represent the violence inherent in meat production, which includes castration, debeaking, dehorning, and throat-slitting."--PETA press release, July 10

--From BOTW.

I don't know about you, but I prefer my sausages testicle, beak and horn free...

Oh, and one more line from PETA: "Perhaps Randall Simon was simply expressing his frustration at the fact that the vegetarian hot dog was not allowed to compete. By allowing the peaceful "soysage" in the race, you could possibly avoid future player-meat confrontations."