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Barry Petchesky

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 08: Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) tags out Detroit Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo (60) attempting to steal second base during the second inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on May 8, 2023, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Akil Baddoo Caught Stealing With Throw That Ricocheted Off His Jiminy Crickets

Maitreyi Anantharaman

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) walks through the dugout to the on deck circle during a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 2023 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

The Cardinals Have A Problem And A Scapegoat

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Noah Gittell is a Connecticut-based writer on film and baseball. His work can be found in <em>The New York Times</em>, The Ringer, <em>The Guardian</em>, <em>Washington City Paper</em>, and the <em>LA Review of Books</em>. His book on baseball cinema is due in 2024.</div>
</div>


Noah Gittell

George exults while wearing a Yankees cap after being hired as the assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees in an episode of "Seinfeld."

When ‘Seinfeld’ Abandoned The Mets For The Yankees

Tom Ley

Defector Up All Night

Hanser Alberto Demonstrates A Painful Way To Lose

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23, Manny Machado #13, and Juan Soto #22 congratulate Nelson Cruz #32 of the San Diego Padres after his solo homerun during the third inning of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series against the San Francisco Giants at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico.

What An Atmosphere For Baseball!

Kelsey McKinney

Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a three-run home run in the second inning

Say Goodbye To The Baseball!

Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles during his postgame interview, wearing both a headset and giant sunglasses

Please Pay Attention To Nick Castellanos

Tony Kemp #5 of the Oakland Athletics tags out Luis Rengifo #2 of the Los Angeles Angels at second base during the tenth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 24, 2023 in Anaheim, California

An Exhilarating Night With The Saddest Teams In Baseball

Ray Ratto

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Jack Suwinski #65, Ji Hwan Bae #3 and Connor Joe #2 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on April 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Rays-Pirates World Series Incoming

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders walks onto the field prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Las Vegas Is Where Billionaires Go To Feud


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Los Angeles, CA - April 19: Mets starter Max Max Scherzer (21) reacts after being ejected in the fourth inning of the game against the Dodgers on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

Max Scherzer Is In A Sticky, Not Tacky, Situation

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: A general view during a game between the Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics on May 17, 2022 at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The A’s Are A Poison Pill

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 14: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws a pitch during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on April 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

Madison Bumgarner Is Going Loudly, But Not Proudly

A bunch of shirtless Red Sox fans in the stands at Fenway Park, with one Angels fan (not shirtless) texting in the middle of it all

Red Sox Fans Are In A Patriots’ Daze

Samer Kalaf

Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a homer in Sunday's minor league baseball game

Triple-A Pitchers Must Be Thrilled That Fernando Tatis Jr. Is Leaving

Rockies Mascot Avoids Clean Double Leg Takedown, Assailant Avoids Capture [UPDATE: Captured]

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


Chris Thompson

Fernando Tatis Jr. rounds the bases for the Padres, during spring training.

El Niño Is Approaching

David Roth

White Sox infielder Lenyn Sosa upends Twins outfielder Byron Buxton in a collision near second base on April 12, 2023.

The White Sox Are The Most Dangerous Team In Baseball*

Lauren Theisen

Ryan Mountcastle celebrates with teammates

Every Orioles Game Is An Adventure

<p>Russell A. Carleton is an author at Baseball Prospectus and of the forthcoming book <a href="https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-new-ballgame-products-9781637272268.php?page_id=30&amp;cid=434862" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-new-ballgame-products-9781637272268.php?page_id%3D30%26cid%3D434862&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1680985638870000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_Ie5IAhP6DgMCeMB7in79"><em>The New Ballgame: The Not-So-Hidden Forces Shaping Baseball</em></a> from Triumph Books, available in June 2023.</p>


Russell Carleton

Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres' high-fiving after a Yankees win on April 2, 2023.

Welcome To Nowhere

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres looks out at the field in the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 10, 2023 in New York City.

Small Ball Returned To Torture Yu Darvish

Oneil Cruz, Pirates Suffer Devastating Injury

The Rays Have Chewed Up The Worst Teams In Baseball And Spat Them In The Garbage

Jake McCarthy goes into the seats for a catch