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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

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

Fans hold up a "SELL" flag as the Boston Red Sox play the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum on April 02, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Boston Red Sox v Oakland Athletics

The A’s And Sacramento Will Pretend Not To Know Each Other

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David Roth

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays v Houston Astros

The More Random The Pitcher, The Better The No-Hitter

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers

Podcasts

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

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Chris Thompson

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The Wandering Athletics Right-Size Their Operation To A Rinky-Dink Minor-League Park In Sacramento

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kauffman Stadium is the home of the Kansas City Royals and beyond it is GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium which is the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas-city-Stadiums

Capital

The Chiefs And Royals Got What They Deserved

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Kathryn Xu

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies salutes the crowd after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Cincinnati Reds v Philadelphia Phillies

A Homers-Only Diet Suits Bryce Harper Just Fine

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<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>
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Zach Buchanan

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Houston Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker watches infielder Grae Kessinger hit in the cages during workouts for Houston Astros pitchers and catchers at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Astros Spring Training Day 2

How Do Coaches Coach When Players Have Their Own Guys?

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: The shadow of a cemetery worker is cast on reclaimed gravestones in London City Cemetery on March 2, 2009 in London, England. The cemetery is piloting a scheme whereby graves over 75 years old become eligible for reclamation. New interments will be placed into the existing graves, the headstones will be turned around and re-used, carving the names of the newly deceased. Once a grave has been earmarked by English heritage the cemetery must wait one year to see if family members claim the existing grave. By conserving as many memorials as possible the City of London hopes to maintain the historic cemetery landscape and sustain buriel provisions for the future. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

City Of London Cemetery Pilots New Scheme To Reclaim Old Graves For Re-Use

Elder Wisdom

Defunct Is Still Undefeated

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Albert Burneko

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, mid-pitch, against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Wow! Blue Jays–Astros No-Hitter!

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of the game at loanDepot park on April 01, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

Los Angeles Angels v Miami Marlins

Mike Trout Is Still Doing Mike Trout Stuff

J.D. Davis takes the field at a nearly empty Oakland Coliseum.

Empty Oakland Coliseum

A New Season Finds The Oakland Athletics In The Same Dumb Limbo

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ESPN’s Win Probability Graphic Wants To Give You Gambling Brain

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Kelsey McKinney

Bryce Harper flips over a wall and into the camera well.

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

Uh-oh!

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Please Give Me Back The Damn Onion Crank

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Tigers v Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs looks kind of wistful during the Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Chicago Cubs v Texas Rangers

A Fan’s Guide To Opening Day Cope

Dave McKenna

James Wood #50 of the Washington Nationals bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 15, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Spring Breakout – Washington Nationals v New York Mets

That Time A D.C. Prep School Cast Away Nats Phenom James Wood

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Defector Staff

Ha-Seong Kim

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like, 2024 Edition

Ramones Baseball

Baseball!

Shohei Ohtani #17 and Will Ireton of the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

2024 Seoul Series – San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani’s Presser Reveals The Gaps In Translation

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Attorney Peter Angelos talks about his law practice and his hopes about buying the Orioles.

Peter-Angelos

Peter Angelos Was The Ultimate Team Owner

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen while his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

2024 Seoul Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres

MLB Has A Gambling Problem Even If Shohei Ohtani Doesn’t

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

ohtani-mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Gives Two Different Stories

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the 3rd inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

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