Steve Blass and John Wehner, color analysts for Pirates' broadcasts on radio and television, agreed yesterday to one-year contracts with the team. Blass has a club option for 2007.

Play-by-play announcers Lanny Frattare and Greg Brown and color analyst Bob Walk already were under contract at least through the 2006 season.

Wehner, who played parts of 11 major-league seasons, had been a minor-league coach for the Pirates when he was hired to join the broadcasting team in February. He did only road games, replacing Blass who cut back on his duties and did only home games.

Wehner had no prior broadcasting experience and acknowledged there was some rough going in his first year.

"I'm sure I've made my share of mistakes and struggled through it," said Wehner, who grew up in Carrick. "I'm looking forward to next year and getting better.

"It's much different than anything I've ever done before. I talk like I'm from the streets of Pittsburgh, and I don't know how well that goes over. The whole Pittsburghese thing is something I've got to work on."

Blass, the pitching hero of the Pirates' 1971 World Series win, has had a continuous involvement with the organization since signing a minor-league contract in 1960. He said it took some time to get used to his limited duties.]

"The team was heading out of town and I'd be saying, 'Wait for me.' But this is what I wanted. The long hours on the road weren't for me."

Blass began broadcasting Pirates' games on a part-time basis in 1983. He became full-time in 1986.