On-Base Perception
Newsday's new all-encompassing baseball blog on the Yankees, Mets, MLB and more from around the sport.
All-Star Game scavenger hunt kicks off Saturday
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
The hunt for a spot at the All-Star Game isn’t limited just to baseball players.
Starting Saturday, MLB, in partnership with the Mets, will be conducting a city-wide scavenger hunt – the ultimate prize being tickets to All-Star Week events. The All-Star Game is being held at Citi Field this season.
The clues will be announced, one-by-one, though the All-Star Game twitter account, @AllStarGame....
Read more »Yankees call up Dellin Betances
Photo credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.
Manhattan-born and Brooklyn-bred Dellin Betances has been called up to the Bronx.
The once highly-touted right-handed starter who recently switched to relief was added to the Yankees’ bullpen before their game Thursday night against the Mariners, the team announced. Brett Marshall, who gave up five runs and threw 108 pitches in 5.2 innings during his MLB debut Wednesday night was sent down...
Read more »Video: Baseball for the blind
Photo credit: Long Island Bombers
We take a quick break from the world of Major League Baseball in this blog post and look at the sport in its lower-case form: baseball.
The Long Island Bombers are a blind and visually impaired team who play what's called beep baseball.
Watch the video below and you'll understand what we're talking about.
(Newsday's app users can watch the video at http://hooplaha.com/beep-baseball-baseball-for-the-blind-visually-impaired/)...
Read more »Zack Wheeler has mild shoulder inflammation, will miss only one start
Photo credit: Alejandra Villa
ST. LOUIS -- Well, the Mets can say at least one thing went right on this road trip, and it's a big one. Doctors found no structural damage in the collarbone of top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler, who will resume throwing in a few days.
He has been diagnosed with mild inflammation of his AC joint on top of his right shoulder and underwent a cortisone injection, according to assistant general...
Read more »The context behind Terry Collins' comments about fans (which really weren't about fans at all)
Photo credit: AP
ST. LOUIS -- Mets manager Terry Collins is getting hammered on sports talk radio today, which is predictable since he ventured into choppy waters by invoking fans in his defense of the way he's handled the Jordany Valdespin situation.
But what can't get lost in the noise is that within the context of the conversation yesterday, it's clear that Collins' main point wasn't to rip fans, but to...
Read more »Agent: Wheeler exam 'totally precautionary'
Photo credit: Alejandra Villa
ST. LOUIS -- Top prospect Zack Wheeler has been pitching with soreness in his collarbone over his past few starts. However, his agent on Tuesday described the decision to have the pitcher examined in New York as "totally precautionary."
"Been more of an annoyance than anything else for the last couple of starts," said Al Goetz, Wheeler's agent. "He could have continued...
Read more »Curtis Granderson activated by Yankees
Photo credit: AP
The first of the reinforcements has arrived.
Curtis Granderson was activated by the Yankees – just in time to face Mariners ace Felix Hernandez at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night. Vidal Nuno, who started Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader against Cleveland, was optioned to the minors in a related move.
Granderson is playing left field and batting cleanup. Vernon Wells is the odd man out of...
Read more »Dwight Gooden: Watching Matt Harvey brings back memories
Photo credit: Dave Pokress
The last Mets pitcher to burst onto the scene with the success and exposure that Matt Harvey is experiencing right now has been keeping an eye on the young star. And he's become a quick fan.
Dwight Gooden, appearing at the annual BTIG Commissions for Charity Day, said he has enjoyed watching Harvey in his nascent career. And you don't have to be a doctor of psychology -- or Ks -- to figure...
Read more »Sandy Alderson and the Mets: a defense of 'the plan'
Photo credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Here’s the first thing Mets fans need to know about the job General Manager Sandy Alderson has done over the last three seasons in Flushing: he’s acquired Zack Wheeler and Travis d’Arnaud, stud prospects kept from the major league roster by service time considerations and a freak injury, respectively.
The second thing is – wait, you still need a second thing?
Alderson has taken a lot...
Read more »Rick Ankiel signs with Mets
Photo credit: AP
The Mets added some power to their slumping lineup by signing outfielder Rick Ankiel to a major league deal.
The pitcher-turned-outfielder is a streaky hitter who strikes out a lot, but is also a legitimate home run threat. The Astros designated Ankiel for assignment last week after hitting .194 with five home runs. He’s a .243 career batter with 74 home runs in 11 seasons.
Ankiel is...
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