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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.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 23: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by teammates following a two run home run against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning in game five of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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You’re Gonna Have To Root For The Phillies In The World Series

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For The Philadelphia Phillies, It All Happened So Fast

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Ray Ratto

Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants

Bruce Bochy Heard The Call

Championship Series – New York Yankees v Houston Astros – Game Two

Does Hatred Of The Astros Spring Eternal?

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David Roth

The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after dispatching the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

Atlanta Braves v. Philadelphia Phillies

Podcasts

Philadelphia Feelies, With Dan McQuade

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Lauren Theisen

American League Championship Series Game 1: New York Yankees v. Houston Astros

The Astros Keep Finding These Guys

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 18: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres reacts after flying out during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 18, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Championship Series – Philadelphia Phillies v San Diego Padres – Game One

The Best Enigmas Money Can Buy

Division Series – Cleveland Guardians v New York Yankees – Game Two

Ignore The Relief Pitchers Of The ALCS At Your Own Peril

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Get To Know The Relief Pitchers Of The NLCS Before It’s Too Late

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Barry Petchesky

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 15: Steven Kwan #38 and Amed Rosario #1 of the Cleveland Guardians react after scoring in the ninth inning to win the game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

New York Yankees v. Cleveland Guardians

Two Fans Victimized By The Cleveland Goddamned Guardians Work Through Their Feelings

Brandon Marsh exults wetly after doubling in the Phillies' NLDS win against the Braves.

Division Series – Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies – Game Four

It Is Not Going To Make Sense

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 15: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by Bryce Harper #3 following an in the park home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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J.T. Realmuto Knows The Angle

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Game three of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners enters the seventeenth inning without a run at T-Mobile Park on October 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Division Series – Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners – Game Three

I Did So Many Things While Houston And Seattle Failed To Score

Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marcnormandin.com/">marcnormandin.com</a>, which you can read for free but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">support through his Patreon</a>. His baseball writing has appeared at SB Nation, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, and TalkPoverty.

Marc Normandin

Amarillo Sod Poodles infielder Jordan Lawlar seen outlined against a bright blue sky in a game against the Frisco RoughRiders in September of 2022.

Arkansas Travelers v Amarillo Sod Poodles

Major League Baseball’s Hubris Helped Lead To Minor League Baseball’s Union

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Chris Thompson

Yordan Alvarez

The Mighty Bat Of Yordan Alvarez Is Inescapable

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Patrick Redford

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Birdfector

The Dodgers Squandered A Rally Goose By Putting It In A Trash Can

the Phillies celebrate in their locker room

National League Wild Card Series: Philadelphia Phillies v. St. Louis Cardinals

Point/Counterpoint: Is Three Games A Playoff Series?

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That’s It

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Tom Ley

Wild Card Series – San Diego Padres v New York Mets – Game Three

Don’t Check The Ears Unless You’re Sure

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) watches the Seattle Mariners celebrate as the Toronto Blue Jays fall to the Seattle Mariners 10-9 in game two losing their American League Wild Card series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. October 8, 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays fall to the Seattle Mariners 10-9 in game two losing their American League Wild Card series

The Blue Jays Crashed Right Out Of The Postseason

A Phillies employee pours beer over Bryce Harper's head

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The Phillies Didn’t Unravel

<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteCroatto" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/PeteCroatto&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664986664225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1IOCSnf8b8k47CXUQY8Wml">Pete Croatto </a>is the author of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/From-Hang-Time-to-Prime-Time/Pete-Croatto/9781982103958" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/From-Hang-Time-to-Prime-Time/Pete-Croatto/9781982103958&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664986664225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0qtPVCYdWjoWnj-HRERk_r">From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-day NBA</a>. His sportswriting has appeared in many outlets, including The New York Times, The Athletic, The Toronto Star, Andscape, Shondaland, and SLAM.

Pete Croatto

<a href="https://twitter.com/DaveCroatto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave Croatto</a> has written for The Onion, The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, MAD Magazine and Random House’s Little Golden Books. Once, in a diner, he saw a woman take a spoonful of complimentary mints from a bowl by the cash register, put the spoon directly into her mouth, and then place the spoon back in the bowl. The experience haunts him to this day.

Dave Croatto

An illustration of a hand holding a straight flush of Donruss Diamond Kings.

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The Brief, Memorable Reign Of The Diamond King, Baseball Cards’ Most Iconic Subset

Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles

There’s Nothing Left For The MLB Season To Do But End

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At Least One Person Appreciated Kody Clemens’s Grand Slam

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting his 62nd home run in the first inning breaking the American League home run record during the game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

New York Yankees v. Texas Rangers

Who Cares If 62 Isn’t A Real Record?