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

<div dir="ltr">
<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>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Zach Buchanan

SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2023: Jackson Holliday #87 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during a minor league spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at the Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex on March 21, 2023 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackson Holliday

MLB Prospects Are Getting Promoted Faster Than Ever. Why?

Kathryn Xu

Kyle Schwarber warms up, wearing what appear to be Oakley wraparounds.

An Unsuccessful Attempt To Prove How Weird The Phillies Offense Is

David Roth

Matt Carpenter of the Padres looking distraught during a road game against the Phillies in July of 2023.

Podcasts

What Are The Padres Trying To Tell Us, With Justin Halpern

Lauren Theisen

An “Old-Fashioned Pitchers’ Duel” Didn’t Always Mean What You Think

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

circa 1885: A couple of men playing a leisurely game of chess. The photo is in black in white. The men are dressed in suits. One of them is also petting a dog.

This Is So Stupid

I Have A Beef With Immaculate Grid, And It Is Exceptionally Petty

Ray Ratto

General view of Busch Stadium during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics on August 14, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri.

Joy Is Where You Find It, Even If That Means In St. Louis

Kelsey McKinney

Trea Turner rounds the bases after hitting a home run

I Apologize To My Beautiful Son Trea Turner, Who I Never Should Have Doubted For One Minute

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


Chris Thompson

Nationals owner Mark Lerner smiles in sunglasses at a Nationals game.

Mark Lerner Loses His Appetite For Sentiment, Pulls The Plug On Stephen Strasburg’s Retirement Send-Off

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 5: Manager Bruce Bochy #15 of the Texas Rangers watches action against the Houston Astros during the second inning at Globe Life Field on September 5, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

The Rangers Are Going Quietly

Will Benson and Elly De La Cruz celebrate after De La Cruz scores the winning run

Better Reds Than Dead

José Altuve celebrates after a home run.

José Altuve Has Found The Range

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 04: Cleveland Guardians position player David Fry (12) delivers a pitch to the plate during the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians on September 4, 2023, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Let David Fry Cook

Tom Ley

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (23) hits a grand slam during the second inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians on September 4, 2023, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Royce Lewis Is The Grand Slam Man

Samer Kalaf

Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run.

Ronald Acuña Jr. Has Only Grown More Powerful Since Marriage

Jorge López looks defeated (and probably was defeated) during one of his final appearances for the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins Couldn’t Make A Good Win-Now Trade If Their Season Depended On It

Fernando Tatis looks exhausted after grounding into a double play Thursday.

The Padres Are Ready For The Fork

Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves watches his second-inning grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which made him the first MLB player in history to hit 30 home runs and steal 60 bases in the same season.

The World Series Is All We Want And Can Never Have

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf of the Chicago White Sox watches his team play against the Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 01, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

Jerry Reinsdorf Went McConnell Mode

Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Report: Prosecutors Now Investigating Two Official Complaints Against Wander Franco

Late Summer Is For Spoilers

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 29: Alex Cobb #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Cincinnati Reds as a almost full moon rises behind him in the fifth inning at Oracle Park on August 29, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Alex Cobb Was Dealing So Hard, Gabe Kapler Conveniently Forgot How To Count

Lucas Giolito #24 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 22, 2023 in Anaheim, California.

Who Wants Some Guys?

Please Let Ronald Acuña Do His Job In Peace

Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after scoring on a throwing error by Harrison Bader.