CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Ray Ratto

Austin Wells in action, looks on from behind the plate vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. Game 5. Big ol mustache on his upper lip.

The New York Yankees No Longer Have To Look Like That, Will Still Be Acting Like That

Kathryn Xu

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets in Game Two of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Stand Down: Phillies Toilet Crisis Abates As Bryce Harper Returns To Spring Training

Lauren Theisen

Hell Yeah: Shohei Ohtani Throws Baseball 14 Times

Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a baseball game against Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 6, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Nike Triumphantly Agrees To Fix The MLB Uniforms It Ruined, Eventually

MLB umpire Pat Hoberg looks on during a game between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs on May 12, 2023.

MLB Loses Its Best Umpire To Sports Gambling

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><span id=":g4.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> </i>and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/"><i>Infinite Inning </i>podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF"><i>Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</i></a>.</span></div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>


Steven Goldman

Bill Rariden of the Cincinnati Reds tags Buck Weaver of the Chicago White Sox out at home plate in the second game of the 1919 World Series at Crosley Field.

Cruelty, Hype, And The American Way In Harry Stein’s Baseball Novel ‘Hoopla’

David Roth

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki wearing #11 which was Miguel Rojas number is introduced as the newest Dodger during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Podcasts

Bop It In The Go Bag, With Justin Halpern

itcher Roki Sasaki puts on his jersey during a Los Angeles Dodgers press conference.

Maybe The Dodgers’ Competitors Could Show Some Self-Respect

Former Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki reacts as he is elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after receiving the results of the 2025 BBWAA voting.

The Case Of The Cooperstown Vote Withholder Will Never Be Closed

Bob Uecker walks onto the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Bob Uecker Was Just The Best

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico in 2023.

All Of MLB Is Chasing Roki Sasaki

San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler and GM A.J. Preller pose for a photo at the home ballpark.

Peter Seidler’s Padres Are A Family Business

Multiple exposure of Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) in action, stealing base vs San Francisco Giants. Game 1. Oakland, CA 10/14/1989

Rickey Henderson Believed In Rickey Henderson

Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a ninth inning pitch.

Yankees Make Big Moves To Rebuild Juan Soto In The Aggregate

Pittsburgh Pirates right-fielder and All-Star Dave Parker (#39) signs some autographs for fans at a game in April of 1980 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dick Allen And Dave Parker’s Hall Of Fame Election Is A Victory For Baseball’s Cool Guys

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


Chris Thompson

A much younger Juan Soto celebrates a dinger in the Nationals dugout.

Juan Soto’s Megadeal Ends A Long Goodbye

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

A Guide To Yankees Fans’ Juan Soto Cope

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

Shoppers walk past an MLB store during the National Day Golden Week holiday at Raffles City Chongqing on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, China.

In Search Of A Phillies Hat In Chinese MLB Stores

<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Patrick Dubuque

American baseball pitcher Wilbur Wood, of the Chicago White Sox, demonstrates his 'knuckle ball' at the club's Comiskey Park stadium in Chicago, Illinois, 30th July 1973.

The Last Pitcher

Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Miami Marlins on August 30, 2024 in San Francisco. EDITORS NOTE: This image was created with the free lens technique)

The Dodgers Should Cut To The Chase

Field workers at the New York Yankees spring training camp pull a tarp across the field during a rain delay in 2022.

A’s Vs. Rays Is The Catastrophe MLB Deserves

A Delta Air Lines banner ad for Pride Night is seen behind Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers as he pitches

End MLB Pride Nights

Shohei Ohtani Reverse Tungsten-Arms His Way Into A World Series Ring

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts #50 during the eighth inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

MLB