Optimum News 12 Newsday.com MSG Varsity Explore LI AM New York Optimum Autos Optimum Homes

On-Base Perception

Newsday's new all-encompassing baseball blog on the Yankees, Mets, MLB and more from around the sport.

Magic numbers: 4,170, 1,297, 500, 110, 17

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost at Kauffman

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 »

John Buck sees shades of Zack Greinke in Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey looks on from the dugout in

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

John Buck has seen all this Matt Harvey mania before, only then the phenom went by a different name: Zack Greinke.

It took Greinke, the No. 14 prospect in MLB before the 2004 season, a little longer to establish himself as one of the game’s best. He suffered from two conditions that Harvey doesn’t have to worry about:

1) A social anxiety disorder that nearly caused him to leave the game

2)...

Read more »

These guys should be All-Stars

Mariano Rivera of the Yankees pitches in the

Photo credit: Jim McIsaac

Each week leading up to the All-Star Game at Citi Field we’ll compile our list of who SHOULD start the game based on current performance (click the player's name to see their full stats). Feel free to leave a comment and tell us what you think:

American League

1B – Chris Davis, Orioles

Davis is no one-week wonder. After a torrid start to the season, he’s kept up the hot hitting,...

Read more »

advertisement | advertise on newsday

Baseball highlights

OBP on Twitter

Follow Newsday Sports on Twitter at @NewsdaySports

advertisement | advertise on newsday