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Kathryn Xu

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

Lauren Theisen

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

Ray Ratto

T.J. McFarland #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Coliseum.

What Defector Saw At “The Janson Junk Game”

Michael Rosen is a transportation planner and author of the <a href="https://pitchplots.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pitchplots.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725119706246000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LfT9S-qtmoiPwAXtsicWT">&#8220;Pitch Plots&#8221;</a> Substack. He lives in Los Angeles.

Michael Rosen

An umpire mediates between two people networking

Looking For Friends Among Baseball’s Most Passionate Nerds

Samer Kalaf

White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore argues with umpire and gets ejected from the game

The White Sox Can Always Find A Way To Get Lower

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run in the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Angels Walked Shohei Ohtani To Face Mookie Betts. What Happened Next Will Shock You.

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A Troubleshooting Paul Skenes Is Somehow Even More Frightening

James Wood Sounds Like A Happy Future

An aerial view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats.

West Sacramento Just Needs To Let The A’s Come To Them

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

Travis Jankowski celebrates after the Rangers win

White Sox Almost Win

Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.

Richard Staff

An illustration of several baseball mitts trying to catch the same ball

The Minor League Shrink And The Growing Gap Between Triple-A And The Bigs

Making MLB history as the first player to play for both teams in the same game, Danny Jansen #28 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field for game one of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 26, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

August Is For Weird Baseball

Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run.

Jackson Merrill Has Already Achieved Dude Status

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: (L-R) Alex Verdugo #24, Aaron Judge #99 and Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on August 25, 2024 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

We Need A Better Phrase For Back-To-Back-To-Back Home Runs

Shohei Ohtani watches the ball after hitting a home run

There’s Nothing More Beautiful Than A Shohei Ohtani Home Run

Ernie Clement slugs a home run on a pitch at forehead height.

No Pitch Is Too High For The Courageous Of Heart

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 07: Former Philadelphia Phillies player Pete Rose acknowledges the crowd prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 7, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 13-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Last Word On Pete Rose Is Deeply Unpleasant

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds acknowledges the crowd before his first at-bat during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Joey Votto Just Got It

Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets dives for a ball

The Mets Make It Hurt

Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann (12) tags out San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (5) during an MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics on August 18, 2024, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

Bay Area Rivalry Nobody Cared About Reaches Suitable End

Kelsey McKinney

Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies catches a foul ball as he falls back into the stands in the ninth inning

My Terrible Son Alec Bohm Is All Grown Up

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Fans look on during the eighth inning between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2022.

At Home With The Worst Team In Baseball

Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals takes the field in the second inning during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, August 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

MLB