On-Base Perception
Newsday's new all-encompassing baseball blog on the Yankees, Mets, MLB and more from around the sport.
Mets-Braves delayed by rain
Photo credit: AP
UPDATE: The Mets and Braves finally got underway at 10:53 p.m. after a nearly four-hour rain delay Monday at Turner Field.
After announcing that the Mets-Braves game would get underway at 10:05 p.m. in Atlanta following a lenghty rain delay, the tarp remained on the field.
At 7:39 p.m., the Braves official Twitter handle tweeted that the grounds crew had just come out to work on the...
Read more »Magic numbers: 4,170, 1,297, 500, 110, 17
Photo credit: Getty
4,170: Mike Mussina's salary as the new head coach of the varsity basketball team at his alma mater, Montoursville Area High. Mussina wrapped his H.S. hoops career with 1,382 points and then went on to earn $140 million in the majors.
1,297: Number of home runs Japan’s NPB teams are on pace to hit this season, well above last year's total of 881. The shocking frequency has commissioner Ryozo...
Read more »Hiroki Kuroda improves with age, competition
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Hiroki Kuroda is a statistical anomaly.
The 38-year-old is pitching to the lowest ERA of his career in a hitter-friendly home park in a hitter-friendly league.
Before coming to the United States, Kuroda pitched 10 seasons for the Hiroshima Carp, posting a 3.77 ERA with 6.62 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.38 walks per nine innings from 1997-2007 in Japan's Central League.
It's...
Read more »Jack Leathersich promoted to Triple-A, report says
Photo credit: Gordon Donovan
Jack Leathersich, a 22-year-old lefthanded reliever, has been promoted to the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Rubin. Leathersich seemed to confirm the report, tweeting, “Flight to Vegas #GoMets.”
Leathersich has gained attention for his astronomical strikeout totals – he has 55 in 29.1 innings this season and 194 in 114 career minor league innings....
Read more »Mets GM Sandy Alderson: 2014 team will have $90-$100 million payroll
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Mets GM Sandy Alderson rarely talks in the definitive. Even during a radio appearance on WFAN Monday afternoon he would only coyly give a wink and nod to the most open of secrets, that top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler is likely to make his debut next Tuesday against the Braves.
Which is why it’s so important that the New York Post’s Joel Sherman got him to pin down the team’s payroll for...
Read more »A look at minor leaguers from Long Island
Photo credit: AP
MARCUS STROMAN, 22, Patchogue-Medford High School
RHP | New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Jays, AA)
1-1, 6.00 ERA, 16 K, 4 BB in four starts
Blue Jays are trying Stroman -- pegged as a future closer -- in the rotation.
STEVEN MATZ, 22, Ward Melville High School
LHP | Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets, Class A)
2-2, 3.10 ERA, 45 K, 13 BB in nine starts
Struck out 45 in...
Read more »Ballparks have Hughes impact on HR numbers
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
Any debate about whether the Yankees should keep righthander Phil Hughes when he becomes eligible for free agency at the end of the season usually boils down to a stat that both new-age and traditional baseball analysts agree is pretty important: home runs.
Hughes has a propensity for giving up the long ball, leading to suggestions that he -- and the Yankees -- would be better served if he...
Read more »Mets game cancelled, makeup scheduled
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
The Mets will have to wait a little longer for some revenge against the pesky Marlins.
The scheduled 7:10 p.m. game at Citi Field Friday night has been rained out and a doubleheader is now scheduled for Sept. 14. There's still hope for Saturday afternoon's regularly scheduled matchup between young phenoms Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez. The two were slated to face each other Friday night.
Ticketholders...
Read more »Mets-Nationals postponed because of rain
Photo credit: AP
The Mets game against the Washington Nationals scheduled for Thursday has been postponed. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader (1:35 and 7:05) July 26.
Justin Turner was due to start in leftfield for the first time in his major-league career.
The Mets' bats finally came alive Wednesday as they crushed the Nats, 10-1, to snap a four-game losing streak. After getting...
Read more »Who should be an All-Star? You make the call
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There are, by a rough estimate, approximately 1,200 baseball players in the major leagues. 68 will have the chance to play in the 2013 All-Star Game July 16 at Citi Field.
This means one thing: there will be snubs. There are a few players across Major League Baseball that have put up solid numbers this season yet still find themselves on the bubble for an All-Star Game berth.
We at Newsday...
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