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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

Kathryn Xu

Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after the game-winning hit to defeat the New York Mets.

Nick Castellanos Answers The Mets’ Whimsy

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a two run home run against AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves.

Well Well Well, Not So Bad To Have A First-Round Bye Now, Is It

Boston Red Sox 2B Vaughn Grissom slides to home plate past the tag by Tampa Bay Rays C Logan Driscoll in the third inning.

The 81-81 Red Sox Weren’t The Most Mediocre Team Of The Season

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Ends His Season Dismantling The Entire Concept Of The Decimal System

Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with a shoey.

Racing

No One Gets To Drive Off Into The Sunset In F1, Even Daniel Ricciardo

Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres watches after throwing the ball to first base as part of a triple play as Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers ducks.

The Padres Found The Coolest Way To Clinch

Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore.

Lando Norris Is Nearly Perfect

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.

Gerrit Cole Shows Remarkable Self-Awareness, Pays The Price

Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and McLaren race engineer Tom Stallard celebrate on the podium.

With A Lot Of Daring, Oscar Piastri Wins The Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

A picture of youtiao, or fried dough sticks, in a tray.

Food

No Breakfast But A Chinese Breakfast

Race winner Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari poses for a picture on the podium, with the fans down on the track during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy.

At Monza, Charles Leclerc Conjures The Dream Of A Competent Ferrari

Shohei Ohtani holds Decoy in his arms while Decoy licks at his face.

Life's Rich Pageant

Just A Bunch Of High-Resolution Photos Of Shohei Ohtani And His Dog

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.

I Believe In The Seattle Mariners

Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches a fly ball during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies.

Nobody’s Waiting Around For Jarren Duran

Barry Petchesky

Vintage color photograph of a chimpanzee in a skirt, stupid blouse, wristwatch and boots seated at a cluttered desk in a faux office, typing on a red typewriter. (Photo by Found Image Holdings/Corbis via Getty Images)

Science

Point/Counterpoint: Monkeys Typing Shakespeare

Olympics, Paris 2024, before the triathlon, view of the murky water of the Seine after the second training session was cancelled due to poor water quality.

Olympics

I Will Only Swim In The Poop River If It Contains Fewer Than 1,000 Colony-Producing Units Of E. Coli Per 100 Milliliters Of Water

Zhang Boheng of China stands ready to participate in the pommel horse event.

What’s In An Olympian’s Name?

This Is So Stupid

The Official, Complete, Very Scientific Taxonomy Of Fishing Video Games

Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes sits on the ground in parc ferme after winning the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium.

How George Russell (Almost) Stole The Belgian Grand Prix

A 3D model of Jake Cave among his teammates is contorted beyond human bounds.

MLB’s Gameday 3D Feature Turns A Walk-Off Win Into A Devil’s Dance

Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Australia with the winners trophy after finishing in first position during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary.

Radio Meltdowns And Secondhand Embarrassment At The Hungaroring

Rack of comic books and toys for sale at a flea market. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)