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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Sarah Borus

Asylum seekers, who entered Israel illegally via Egypt, lean at the fence of the Holot detention centre in Israel's southern Negev Desert, on February 17, 2014.

Politics

Alligator Alcatraz Isn’t Just An American Fantasy

Sohini Desai

Announcements

The Defector Interns Say Fogo de “Ciao”

Former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Maybelle Blair and WPBL mascot pose for a photo prior to the game between the Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells at Robin Roberts Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Springfield, Illinois

Women's Baseball

The Women’s Pro Baseball League Will Eventually Need To Escape The Past

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Harrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants welcomes teammates back to the dugout between innings against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park on June 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Reports: Harrison Bader A Dope

Marvin Miller, executive director of the baseball players association, chats with players here after announcing a settlement has been reached to end the 13-day old players strike and that the season would begin in April of 1972. The other people in the photo are lawyer Richard Moss and MLBPA player reps Joe Torre, Wes Parker, and Gary Peters.

Baseball’s Labor History Is Repeating Itself Once Again

Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field on July 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I Need Jacob Misiorowski To Please Be Careful!

France Europe French Paris 7th arrondissement Muse Rodin Museum art sculpture hands

Arts And Culture

You’ve Got To Hand It To Rodin

Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies cannot field the ball on an infield RBI single

Trea Turner Is A True Two-Way Player

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being called out for runner's interference

Where Am I Supposed To Look When I Look At Baseball?

This Is So Stupid

I Have Discovered The Final Frontier In Baseball Tinkering

Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches

Is There Any Limit To Zack Wheeler’s Spite?

Pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Pitcher Scorned

Life's Rich Pageant

America’s Birthday, Brought To You By Gas Station Hoagies

Texas Rangers second baseman Cameron Cauley (27), in his major league debut, reacts after hitting a triple for his first major league hit during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians on June 29, 2026

You’re Going To Have To Care About The AL’s Snooziest Teams

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on the field before a game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets

What Does It Mean To “Stand Up For Buffalo”?

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after a ninth inning error against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on June 24, 2026 in New York City.

What I Learned Watching The Mets Make Six Errors In A 10-5 Loss

Summer Is For Baseball, Hot Dogs, And Watching A Bunch Of Horny Teens Get Murdered In The Woods

Rafael Devers looking up with his helmet fully over his face after fouling off a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the fifth inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 14, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

The San Francisco Giants Are Just Doing Whatever

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs hits a single to complete the cycle

The Cubs Are Riding The World’s Bumpiest Roller Coaster

Members of the U.S. Secret Service patrol outside at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3

Policing

Security Theater Looks The Same Every Time

Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches

Jacob Misiorowski Is Throwing So Damn Hard

Why Did The Brewers’ VP Of Communications Retweet This Racist Crap?

A fly ball bounces off the head of Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell

Jo Adell Traverses The Entirety Of The Fielding Experience

Closeup of American actor Patty Duke smiling in a still from the television series 'The Patty Duke Show'.