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Defector

David Roth

Orioles reliever DL Hall leaves the mound while his teammates wait for the reliever who will relieve him during the team's Game 3 loss in the American League Divisional Series.

Nothing Is Promised, Even For The Orioles

Ray Ratto

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 11: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after winning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 of the Division Series at Chase Field on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 4-2. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

100 Wins Doesn’t Buy What It Used To

Patrick Redford

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 1: Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 1, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Jerry Jeudy Tries, Fails To Get Into It With Steve Smith

Tom Ley

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) gestures to fans during game four of the NLDS game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on October 12, 2023, at Citizens Bank Park.

Reporters Are Allowed To Report

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Ronald Acuña Jr. throws the ball back into the infield during Game 4 of the NLDS.

Atlanta’s Cool Guys Forgot How To Be Cool

An illustration of the cohosts of The Distraction, in the style of a Nascar fan t-shirt. We're both wearing those fire-suits and appear deeply tan.

Podcasts

A Tote Bag Full Of Starting Lineups, Live With Rohan Nadkarni

Carlsen has already lost at this point, and he looks visibly agitated

Chess

Magnus Carlsen Responds To Shocking Upset By Once Again Kinda-Sorta Accusing Opponent Of Cheating

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Foxborough, MA - October 8: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field following the game. The Patriots lost to the New Orleans Saints, 34-0. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Jamboroo

Bill Belichick Is Going Out The Way He Came In

Kathryn Xu

Lance Lynn reacts after giving up a home run to Gabriel Moreno.

The Dodgers Need A 75-Game Series

Lauren Theisen

Rocco Baldelli visits the mound to remove Caleb Thielbar

The Astros Were Not About To Lose A Battle Of Bullpens

Barry Petchesky

VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks onto the ice dejected during the second period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena October 11, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s Safe To Say That’s Not The Start Edmonton Wanted

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty in the first quarter of Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 11, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WNBA

The Liberty Are Going Down Without A Fight

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds second base ant stares down Orlando Arcia #11 of the Atlanta Braves during Game 3 of the NLDS on October 11, 2023 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Braves Are Being Babies About Bryce Harper’s Mean Little Stare

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Anthony Davis #3 sits on the bench next to LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 07, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Get A Load Of Management’s New Claim About Load Management

Samer Kalaf

A man carries a child, wounded by Israeli airstrikes, into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City

Politics

Subjugation And Dehumanization Lead To Only One Result

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 7: Players from the Tampa Bay Lightning skate during warmups with special hockey tape for Pride Night against the Philadelphia Flyers at Amalie Arena on March 7, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

The NHL Skates Backward

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets poses for a photo during media day on October 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Dillon Brooks Believes He’s Being Targeted And Victimized For Punching People In The Balls

Dustin Johnson crouches on the green during a LIV Golf event, with a large "LIV GOLF" sign in the background. He is wearing shorts.

Golf

World Ranking Body Formally Shoos LIV Golf Back To The Kids’ Table

Steve Garvey, in the foreground, at his induction into the Legends of Dodgers Baseball inaugural class back in September of 2018. He's got sunglasses on and is clapping.

Nobody Wants Senator Steve Garvey

Manager Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins relieves Sonny Gray #54 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the Division Series at Target Field on October 10, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Negating Effects Of First-Half-Inning Run Scoring On Competitive Integrity And Entertainment Fidelity

Dennis Young is the news editor at Front Office Sports.

Dennis Young

Kelvin Kiptum celebrates after winning the Chicago Marathon

Negative Splits

Freak Athletes And Freakier Technology Have Tamed The Marathon

Giri Nathan

Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs contests a shot

Victor Wembanyama Stood Out In The Spurs’ Preseason Opener

Samuel Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of FTX, testifies during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing about "Examining Digital Assets: Risks, Regulation, and Innovation," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on February 9, 2022. The photo is stylized. His big poofy hair is mostly what the photo is of, plus the top half of his face. The canvas behind him is ugly and Brown, kind of in a gradient.

Arts And Culture

Michael Lewis’s ‘Going Infinite’ Goes In Circles

The driver rating screen in an Uber app is seen February 12, 2016 in Washington, DC. - Global ridesharing service Uber said February 12, 2016 it had raised $200 million in additional funding to help its push into emerging markets.The latest round comes from Luxembourg-based investment group LetterOne (L1), according to a joint statement. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Funbag

The Five-Star Rating System Is Dogshit. Here’s How We Can Fix It

Luis Paez-Pumar

Belgium's forward Eden Hazard celebrates during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on July 6, 2018.