In 1997 he joined the Florida Marlins as a bench player, staying there for two seasons before rejoining the Pirates in 1999.[2]. So that made it easy for me to feel like I was to a degree already in the major leagues." Sure enough it did, and so that moment stands out for me. I dont know how the rest of the fanbase feels about Wehner I dont keep my finger on the pulse in that regard, but I think he is nothing short of bad. I think if he's hitting and he's pickin' it, I don't see how you can send him back. He was a passionate Bills fan. WebJohn Wehner, a current broadcaster and lifelong member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, has seen just about everything, but even he couldnt prepare for a season ", Check out his fiery response about it along with the entire interview on. WebJohn Wehner Like Walk, Wehner also spent time as a player in Pittsburgh. I can remember looking into the dugout and seeing the exhaustion on the faces of the players. And we laughed because he didn't hit home runs." "He started taking me on trips to Pittsburgh," Brown explained. His reputation was pretty amazing, obviously, for what he did, the way he hit, the home runs, the RBIs, said John Wehner, the former Pirates player and current broadcaster. He joined the crew prior to the 2005 season and serves as an analyst on both All rights reserved. The Bills clung to a 13-10 lead in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, as Troy Aikman drove the Cowboys downfield for what could have been a game winning drive. PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan)- Pirates broadcaster John Wehner joins The Fan Morning Show every Tuesday at 9:30 am to discuss the team and get into some general shenanigans. Therefore, if the Bisons were on the road at that point, I wasn't going on the road. The list of alumni includes former Pirates pitcher Matt Capps; former Pirates catcher and current AT&T SportsNet analyst Michael McKenry; and former Pirates first baseman Kevin Young. If the three consecutive last-place finishes followed by a second 100-loss season werent enough, the outfielder ran headlong into a ceiling so many stars had in the past: A de facto cap on salary commitments, an unwritten edict that prompted past stars to flee or get traded, that prevented free agents from joining the squad, that kept a franchise with a rich history operating in the 21st century at 20th-century prices. Top prospect Roansy Contreras has been dominant his last three starts, completing at least six innings and striking out 19, albeit with seven walks. "In 1990, WGR finally got the rights to broadcast Bills games and Brown and Weber continued to host the pre- and post-game shows. I remember being there when he took the shuttle to the airport. I get goose bumps every time I tell the story, because that moment, not only did it slow down, but it's almost like the baseball stopped, about halfway to the wall. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for John Wehner. His big break came during a doubleheader at Three Rivers Stadium. "I still believe [Keone] Kela is elite and can set up. In First Call Friday, Reds fans attack John Wehner. So, what gives with the major league-leading 41 steals? He was a utility guy. That gaudy OBP wont hold up, and the Pirates win total is aided by a schedule frontloaded with stragglers theyre a combined 16-6 against the White Sox, Reds, Rockies, Cardinals and Nationals. . I would run down the steps, find out what they needed, run back up, like a runner." "John never hit homers, rarely did he start. Happy were settled with all that and look forward to continuing what were doing.. MICHELLE GANASSI michelleg@dailyamerican.com. A three-team trade headlined by Joe Musgrove heading to the Padres in January 2021 brought him back to the land of Sheetz. John Joseph Block (born March 1, 1978) is a radio and TV play-by-play announcer who calls games for the Pittsburgh Pirates on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh and KDKA-FM, joining the team in 2016 after 4 years with the Milwaukee Brewers. published 1 May 2023. "There is a ton of holes in that (Cubs) lineup and the rotation is iffy. He was drafted by the Pirates in 1988. Block served as a post-game host for the Los Angeles Dodgers on the radio. I love watching the kid. The crew will be joined this year by several Pirates alumni serving as analysts and bringing their unique perspectives to each game. Derek Dietrich has as many home runs in the last three games against Pittsburgh as Wehner had in his entire 11-year Major League career. For the complete Pirates Spring Training broadcast schedule please visit pirates.com/broadcast. But he started that game as a gesture by Gene LaMonte, the manager of the Pirates, to have the Pittsburgh kid play third base in the final game. John Wehner is going to hit a home run that's going to give the Pirates the lead in the last game ever at Three Rivers Stadium? June 30, 2017 / 3:45 PM "It's going to be interesting to see when [Kevin] Newman is healthy what they do there. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a history of noteworthy broadcasters, like Bob Prince, The Gunner, who was active with the Pirates for a 28-year stretch that included two World Series wins. And several local guys and a lot of national guys wanted to do play-by-play for these cable games, and eventually it whittled down to a handful and I put my own name in to try to be the play-by-play guy. Cincinnati Reds infielder Derek Dietrich is on an incredible hot streak, and Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster John Wehner doesnt appreciate the way hes handling it. He says that despite being 5 games under .500 right now he sees a lineup that is solid and the rotation is one of the top in the NL Central. "Pete had just a huge influence on me," Brown said of Weber, who was the Voice of the Bisons for 13 seasons. Its not like Major League Baseball changed its rules to encourage stolen bases and the Pirates responded by signing a 4 x 100-meter relay team. Then for the next week doing sports talk just rehashing the game." For some, it will also bother them. "I was a stage manager essentially," Brown said of his roll on Blass and Lange's cable broadcasts. His nickname is "Rock". He talks now about how he's lucky to be alive. I know that sounds like Im rewarding him for simply doing his job, but it can be tough, especially if the supporting crew is lackluster (Im looking at you Wehner, but more on that later). They were all listening to the game. 6 San Francisco still in the playoffs. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. OK, so Santana has just three stolen bases in three attempts one of seven Pirates with multiple thefts through 29games. Just posted my look at his career at. WebTHE ROCK joins us for one of the final times of the season. John Paul Wehner (pronounced "Way-ner")[1] (born June 29, 1967) is an American former utility player in Major League Baseball (MLB) and a current broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And hopefully theres a lot of winning to be done in Pittsburgh., This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pirates' NL-best start to 2023 has Pittsburgh charting new course, eight-year, $100 million contract extension, Bet $10 and get $100+ in bonus wagers with our link at BetMGM, changed its rules to encourage stolen bases, Full list of every baseball team from highest to lowest, Database of every player on anopening day roster, Pirates' NL-best start to 2023 has Pittsburgh charting new course, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, E. Jean Carroll resumes testimony in Trump rape trial after mistrial denied, Michael J. I stunned him. Frank has done extensive research on the early days of the Bisons and shares tremendous stories about the team and baseball in the Queen City that are must reads for Buffalo sports fans. Although he didn't get the mascot job, the tryout led to other opportunities. Brown remembers Miller having a similar influence on him as Pete Weber had, "but in a different way." In addition to game coverage, AT&T SportsNet will air exclusive Pirates programming prior to the start of the season, including new editions of Inside Pirates Baseball. Void in ONT. Hed talk to anybody and everybody. WebFormer Pittsburgh Pirate and current team broadcaster John The Rock Wehner credits good fortune for his baseball career. He said 'What are you doing calling me?' At one point the fledgling cable company was looking to hire a play-by-play and a color guy, and our president at the time, Malcom Prine, asked me to spearhead the guys who were coming in to try out for the play-by-play and color analyst." 2023 www.dailyamerican.com. They'd know that the Pirates had won the game the night before." He says many of his friends growing up are either dead or in jail. "As of right now I like the Pirates chances better than the Chicago Cubs," Wehner said. His wife is from the Pittsburgh area and they will reside in the Pittsburgh area for the upcoming season. I thought that would be easier to say." Now, Bednar is the Pirates' All-Star closer and a bit in disbelief hes battling alongside the player who brought Pittsburgh baseball back from oblivion. "I remember being down by the dugout," Brown said. "And that's what Van did all the time I just adored him. His Pirates are off to a 20-9 start, the best record in the National League, and while Reynolds, wife Blair and their two children are rooted in Tennessee, they can certainly shop around in preparation for Steel City summers: Reynolds last week signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension, the first nine-figure commitment in club history. There's something different about his fastball this year than last year because last year it seemed like every batter swung and missed at two of his fastballs and this year they're not," said Wehner. "I can't sit here and say they we are a favorite," Wehner added. "An incredible broadcasting journey that began the day Mike Lange handed off the mic at Three Rivers Stadium, has taken him through some of the most memorable moments of the Bisons modern era, the Bills Super Bowl seasons, and a long career calling games for his favorite childhood team. And I scoffed at it. Its significantly different, Reynolds says of the vibe as May dawns this season compared to years past. And it's just mayhem and spontaneous joy. Block used to call games for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Ive heard some fans suggest he still has somewhat of an allegiance to the Brew Crew. Let me know! "He and I carved out a three hour pre-game show. Critics of Brown would suggest that hes a homer, or an overly (and obviously) dedicated Pirates fan. Tom Prince would always get on me saying how easy I thought it looked. He graduated from Michigan State University of 1999 and resided on the east side of Milwaukee with his wife, Bethany, when he was with the Brewers from 20122015. The experience of calling a big league game only enhanced Brown's desire to join the booth.He also had a foot in another broadcasting door at the time. Wehners response? It's live. But did he actually catch it? Walk offers some genuine insight into the game, but his value comes more from his rapport with Greg Brown, with both having done this part of the job for the same amount of time. Can that continue? Prior to the draft, he said, he received a call asking if he would sign or finish college. [2] He was in the Pirates' organization, splitting his time between MLB and their minor league affiliates, through the 1996 season. Some included Pirates broadcaster John Wehner. "He would go to meetings and I would hang out in the lobbies of the visiting team's hotels and run around getting autographs. At that moment in time I said to myself 'Is this really happening? His success has angered Pirates broadcaster John Wehner, who voiced his complaints Tuesday on Pittsburghs 93.7 The Fan Morning Show. He retired from playing baseball and started working as a hitting coach for the Altoona Curve. Not unless you consider 37-year-old first baseman Carlos Santana a speed merchant. Lanny Frattare had 'There was no doubt about it!' Possibly most known for High School classmate Zach Lange coming to one of Paul Opalewski's epic bashes and in hot pursuit shouting out the now infamous line "Which one's Joe"? "Brown's signature call after every Pirates win, "Raise the Jolly Roger!," has become a phenomenon with Pirates fans. @917wvxu. Throughout the course of the truncated 60-game regular season, all 30 Major League Baseball teams played games without spectators as a "He closed the door and said 'You know why I'm calling you in here?'" In April 2022, owner Bob Nutting broke Kendalls franchise record, even if on another team-compatible extension for infielder Ke'Bryan Hayes: Eight years, $70 million, with a 2030 club option. I get tweets and texts and pictures from people in every part of the world, showing them raising the Jolly Roger. He remembered the special relationship minor league announcers had with players at that time. He called minor league games for the Great Falls White Sox, Jacksonville Suns, Billings Mustangs, and select games for the final two seasons of the Montreal Expos. "As he spoke about his time with the Herd, memories of interacting with some of the Bisons' stars from that era began flooding back to him. Learn how and when to remove this template message, he was hired to serve as play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Pirates broadcasters and media, https://web.archive.org/web/20131008055009/http://joeblock.com/bio.html, http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111223&content_id=26230806&c_id=mil, http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=mil, http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/163247532/pirates-hire-broadcaster-joe-block, Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories, Bill Mazeroski's 1960 World Series home run, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Block&oldid=1145123718, College basketball announcers in the United States, National Basketball Association broadcasters, Articles lacking reliable references from February 2013, BLP articles lacking sources from February 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 12:00. There are four of the nations top six television markets No. It seems as though, despite the moment, Block has trouble mustering excitement. Due to his location in central Pennsylvania and proximity to Philadelphia and Baltimore, he also tuned in regularly to legendary announcers like Harry Kalas, By Saam, Andy Musser, and Richie Ashburn calling Phillies games, Chuck Thompson calling Orioles games, and Jack Buck calling Cardinals games.Brown originally became involved with the Pirates during their magical 1979 season, which ended with the Bucs defeating the Orioles in Game 7 of the World Series. And I said I just don't want to get all caught up in that. Its already odd enough that Reynolds now counts Andrew McCutchen as a teammate, since the once and former star outfielders were traded for another between San Francisco to Pittsburgh in January 2018. He has an incredible personality. Wehner hit a two-run home run to give the Pirates the lead in the fifth inning. Mike Lange became the play-by-play announcer and former Pirate hurler Steve Blass was chosen to be the color analyst, while Brown became the pre- and post-game host, as well as an in-game reporter. The game will be broadcast on the Pirates Flagship radio station 93.7 The Fan and across the 38-station Pirates Radio Network. After the Bills fell behind 35-3 to Houston, many fans headed for the exits. Brown and Weber began doing Bills pre-game shows on WGR, even though the station didn't have the rights to the team's broadcasts yet. WebRadio: 93.7 The Fan Greg Brown, Joe Block, Bob Walk, John Wehner, Matt Capps, Kevin Young, Neil Walker. They couldn't really hold a candle to the Bisons. He's dynamic. Kudos to the casual fan that can block out the five grim seasons preceding this one and fondly remember 2013, when social-media hashtags were still earnest and #Buctober was on everyones screen. PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan)- Through 20 games of the 2019 season, the Pirates have battled injuries, blown late-game leads, won games late, have gotten excellent starting pitchingand have had multiple players make their Major League debuts. Follow them on twitter as well, @HerdChroniclesPittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown looks back fondly on his five seasons calling Bisons games with Pete Weber and three years working with Van Miller on Bills games. The primary critique of Block is his sheer lack of enthusiasm whenever something big happens, the exact opposite of Brown. Brown responded, "I assume because Van probably didn't like me stepping on him." Eligibility restrictions apply. ", "So you wonder, do you keep letting him run out there until he runs into a bit of a slump? He's just such a brilliant person. How cool would it be if people were going to work the next morning, and we had a late game, and they didn't know the outcome, and they looked across the river and saw this big black skull and crossbones high atop Three Rivers Stadium? The guy who once stood in the back of the broadcast booth and acted as a runner now enters his 27th season as the Pirates' play-by-play man. Brown has become a favorite for many, in part by virtue of being such a mainstay with Pittsburgh only Prince and Frattare were around longer. "I'm not going to say the Pirates are a favorite but right now I'm gonna say I like the Pirates chances.". "Just the fun that he had. His Pirates are off to a 20-9 start, the best record in the National League, and while Reynolds, wife Blair and their two children are rooted in Tennessee, they can certainly shop around in preparation for Steel City summers: Reynolds last week signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension, the first nine-figure commitment in club history. They obviously had Newman ahead of Tucker coming out of Spring Training, rightfully so with Tucker not playing much in AAA.
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