Joe Block

Part of the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast team. Married to the South Hills. Michigan State grad. Roseville grown. Dedicated husband and dad. #90sHipHop fan.

[Joe Block @joe_block]

My fix for ERA qualification
https://t.co/SJhb9UmAwe

[Prep Baseball @jprepbaseball]

Join us Saturday, December 5 for an exciting day of baseball with Konnor Griffin and Jake Mangum and the Prep staff. Sign up today. 80 spots for each session. @KonnorGriffin22 @jakemangum15

https://t.co/AmROobFGha

[Joe Block @joe_block]

@TylerKepner I may not yell at clouds but my timeline knows I’m interested in elite filtration.

[Joe Block @joe_block]

The 2007 Rockies were 4.5 GB of SD for the Wild Card with 14 games to play - and went to the World Series

The 2026 Pirates are 4.5 GB of SD for the final Wild Card with 15 games to play -

[Joe Block @joe_block]

@CraigCustance One thing I learned a long time ago, always bet on Craig Custance. Good luck. You don’t need it.

[Joe Block @joe_block]

Paul Skenes has the lowest September career ERA, all-time - 1.01

minimum 9 starts - since earned runs official in 1912-13

[Joe Block @joe_block]

Pirates with 20+ strikeouts + 0 runs allowed in any month:

Aug. 2026 - Mason Montgomery
Sep. 1977 - Goose Gossage HOF

(via @Stathead)

[OptaSTATS @OptaSTATS]

There have been over 60,000 saves across MLB since saves became an official statistic in 1969.

Yohan Ramírez's save last night is the only one to include 3 strikeouts with the tying run in scoring position in the 12th inning or later.

[Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports]

Rafael Flores Jr. is the first Pirates player since at least 1900 with multiple home runs in a game he did not start

[OptaSTATS @OptaSTATS]

Last 2 starts for the @Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft:

9.0 innings on 85 pitches
8.0 innings on 80 pitches

He's the first MLB pitcher to toss at least 8.0 innings while averaging 10.0 or fewer pitches per inning in back-to-back starts since Greg Maddux from September 7-13, 2000.

[Jimmy T @JimmyTrdinich]

On this date in 1921, Harold Arlin became the first person to announce a Major League Baseball game on radio as the @Pirates hosted the Phillies. The game was broadcast on KDKA Radio and provided inspiration for other radio stations across the country to do the same.

[OptaSTATS @OptaSTATS]

In July, Esmerlyn Valdez recorded 25 RBI, 15 walks and eight home runs.

The only other NL rookie to reach all three of those stats in a single calendar month was Adam Dunn in August 2001.

[Joe Block @joe_block]

Since June 19, #Pirates rookie Esmerlyn Valdez leads MLB in OPS

[Joe Block @joe_block]

Only younger player than #Pirates Esmerlyn Valdez in MLB history to have both an RBI and extra-base hit in 8 consecutive games (and he wasn't a rookie)

[Joe Block @joe_block]

Only Pirate with a longer single-season, consecutive-game extra-base hit streak than rookie Esmerlyn Valdez:

[Joe Block @joe_block]

#Pirates Esmerlyn Valdez is the youngest player in AL/NL history to have an 8-game stretch with both 7+ HR and 17+ RBI in that span

(via @Stathead)

[Joe Block @joe_block]

#Pirates Esmerlyn Valdez joins Eddie Mathews (1953 Braves) as the only players age 22 or younger with an RBI and XBH in 8 consecutive games

(via @Stathead)

[Colin Beazley @colin_beazley]

Just caught up with David Bednar. When he got back to the Yankees clubhouse, he found he had two 15-packs of IC Light waiting for him courtesy of video guru Kevin Roach and clubbie Nik Cook.

“I’m glad they followed through,” Bednar said. “It’s a little tough to get IC Lights out here.”

[Dan Zangrilli @DanZangrilli]

Esmerlyn Valdez is the first Pirate since Willie Stargell during his [monster] 1971 season to have an extra-base hit and an RBI in 7 straight games.

[Joe Block @joe_block]

The Pirates are averaging their most runs per game since 1930

[Joe Block @joe_block]

The Pirates have hit as many home runs this year as they hit all last year