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Better Hate An Owner

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<div>Zach Buchanan has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, for the <em>Arizona Republic</em>, <em>Cincinnati Enquirer,</em> and most recently The Athletic. He also has been published in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, FanGraphs and <em>Baseball America</em>. He lives in Phoenix, where he prepares for the inevitable water crisis by living off Dr Pepper instead.</div>
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Zach Buchanan

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Houston Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker watches infielder Grae Kessinger hit in the cages during workouts for Houston Astros pitchers and catchers at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

How Do Coaches Coach When Players Have Their Own Guys?

Ray Ratto

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: The shadow of a cemetery worker is cast on reclaimed gravestones in London City Cemetery on March 2, 2009 in London, England. The cemetery is piloting a scheme whereby graves over 75 years old become eligible for reclamation. New interments will be placed into the existing graves, the headstones will be turned around and re-used, carving the names of the newly deceased. Once a grave has been earmarked by English heritage the cemetery must wait one year to see if family members claim the existing grave. By conserving as many memorials as possible the City of London hopes to maintain the historic cemetery landscape and sustain buriel provisions for the future. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

Defunct Is Still Undefeated

Albert Burneko

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, mid-pitch, against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Wow! Blue Jays–Astros No-Hitter!

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of the game at loanDepot park on April 01, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

Mike Trout Is Still Doing Mike Trout Stuff

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

J.D. Davis takes the field at a nearly empty Oakland Coliseum.

A New Season Finds The Oakland Athletics In The Same Dumb Limbo

Kathryn Xu

A screenshot of an ESPN broadcast, featuring a live win probability graphic displaying a 35-percent Dodgers win probability, and Chris Taylor making a beaver face.

ESPN’s Win Probability Graphic Wants To Give You Gambling Brain

Kelsey McKinney

Bryce Harper flips over a wall and into the camera well.

Uh-oh!

onion crank with missing written on top of it and some sad faces

Please Give Me Back The Damn Onion Crank

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs looks kind of wistful during the Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

A Fan’s Guide To Opening Day Cope

Dave McKenna

James Wood #50 of the Washington Nationals bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 15, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

That Time A D.C. Prep School Cast Away Nats Phenom James Wood

Defector Staff

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like, 2024 Edition

Baseball!

Shohei Ohtani #17 and Will Ireton of the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani’s Presser Reveals The Gaps In Translation

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Attorney Peter Angelos talks about his law practice and his hopes about buying the Orioles.

Peter Angelos Was The Ultimate Team Owner

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen while his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

MLB Has A Gambling Problem Even If Shohei Ohtani Doesn’t

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Gives Two Different Stories

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the 3rd inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

161 To Go

Announcements

Sockdolager Is The New Dinger

Tom Ley

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at PETCO Park on September 19, 2023 in San Diego, California.

Blake Snell’s Contract Looks Like Trouble

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOV. 20: Renel Brooks-Moon, the San Francisco Giants' PA announcer since 2000, poses for a portrait at Oracle Park on Friday, November 20, 2020, in San Francisco, Calif. Brooks-Moon, 62, was born in Oakland and is a Mills College graduate. Brooks-Moon has been using her longevity and voice to call out inequities in the hiring practices of the Giants and in Major League Baseball in general. They're listening. (Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

The Giants Are Doing All The Little Things Wrong

College Basketball

Terry Francona’s Next Act: Arizona Hoops Superfan

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on February 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Dylan Ceases Toiling For The White Sox

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: &lt;&gt; during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers Can’t Buy A Natural Shortstop … Yet

J.D. Davis #7 of the San Francisco Giants singles in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies.

MLB