On-Base Perception
Newsday's new all-encompassing baseball blog on the Yankees, Mets, MLB and more from around the sport.
MLB All-Star Game skills competition proposal
Photo credit: AP
The Mets, MLB and New York officials laid out the schedule for the 2013 All-Star week (held at Citi Field) Wednesday afternoon, which of course made us think of the game, the celebrity softball game and...the home run derby.
Home runs are just so….blah.
Mark Trumbo and Prince Fielder can hit the ball a long way. We get it. Isn’t it time for the other baseball skills to have their day...
Read more »Jonathon Niese leaves game in 3rd after getting hit by line drive
Photo credit: Mike Stobe
Jonathon Niese left Tuesday's game against the Dodgers in the third inning after getting struck by a line drive in the right leg off the bat of A.J. Ellis.
Niese allowed one run on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings before being forced out of the game.
Newsday's David Lennon reported that Terry Collins talked at length before the game about being willing to call up Rafael Montero...
Read more »Manny Ramirez crushes home run for Taiwan's EDA Rhinos
Photo credit: AP
Believe it or not, 40-year-old Manny Ramirez is still being Manny -- just in Taiwan.
Ramirez, the new star of the EDA Rhinos, came up with a man on and no one out in a 2-2 game in the top of the 11th inning against the Brother Elephants. The former big-leaguer belted a home run to left field to go up 4-2. The announcers went crazy, and Manny, being his old quirky self, took for-ever to round...
Read more »Kirk Nieuwenhuis demoted, Juan Lagares called up
Photo credit: Getty Images
The Mets have demoted Kirk Nieuwenhuis to Triple-A and called up outfield prospect Juan Lagares, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
Nieuwenhuis struggled in limited at bats this season, hitting .125. Lagares, 24, hit .346 with three homers at Triple-A Las Vegas. He’s not in the lineup Tuesday night as the Mets take on the Dodgers at Citi Field.
Lagares can play all three outfield...
Read more »First inning crucial for Yankees
Photo credit: Mike Stobe
CC Sabathia allowed four runs in the first inning Monday night against the Rays and you could have turned your television off right then. According to the odds, the Yankees weren’t winning that game.
They didn’t, of course, following a trend that has the events of the first inning foreshadowing the fate of the game this season:
- The Yankees have allowed a run in the first inning in...
Read more »Video: Darrelle Revis throws out first pitch at Yankees-Rays game
Photo credit: AP
Darrelle Revis has already taken his talents to Tampa Bay.
The newly acquired Buccaneer delivered a strike to the Rays' Matt Joyce before the Rays topped the Yankees, 5-1, at Tropicana Field on Monday.
Check out the video:
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Read more »Magic numbers: 475, 50, 44, 29, 4
Photo credit: AP
475: Feet traveled by Anthony Rizzo’s home run hit Thursday at Wrigley Field, a shot ESPN measured to be the longest of the season so far.
50: Season-ticket holders who reportedly heard Padres president Tom Garfinkel describe Zack Greinke as “Rain Man” and say he hit Carlos Quentin on purpose. “We’re in the trust tree here,” Garfinkel said. Good “Old School” reference, Tom. Bad comment.
44:...
Read more »Yankees prospect watch
Photo credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.
A look at how the Yankees’ top minor –league prospects have fared so far this season (all stats through Friday):
1. Mason Williams OF | Tampa Yankees (Single A Advanced) .296 BA, .433 OBP, .407 SLG, 0 HR, 4 RBIs Power likely to improve as he develops; excellent defense aided by superb speed.
2. Slade Heathcott OF | Trenton Thunder (Double A) .205 BA, .271 OBP, .295 SLG, 0 HR, 2 RBIs...
Read more »Yankees vs. ex-Yankees: Who has the edge?
Photo credit: AP
The Yankees were faced with five key personnel decisions heading into the 2013 season. In each case they let the incumbent walk and replaced him via free agency or from within. Here’s a look at how, three weeks in, the decisions have worked out:
CATCHER: Russell Martin vs. “Stew-velli” (Chris Stewart/Francisco Cervelli)
Stewart and Cervelli have combined to hit .322 while sharing time...
Read more »Why the Mets' Lucas Duda will stay where he is in the lineup
Photo credit: AP
Lucas Duda ranks third in all of baseball with a 1.199 OPS. He's reaching base and hitting for power, the exact combination that any team could use in the middle of the lineup. But even though Mets coaches have discussed moving Duda into the cleanup spot -- which is currently occupied by Ike Davis -- manager Terry Collins said that he's content to leave Duda where he is.
On Sunday against...
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