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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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Better Hate An Owner

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Ray Ratto

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: A view of cut-outs of African-American players from the Negro Leagues are displayed in left field during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this weekend. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillies won 4-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

MLB Attempts To Fix The Baseball History It Fractured

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


Chris Thompson

Fans hold up a Chief Wahoo sign at a Cleveland baseball game.

The Cleveland Baseball Team Is Already Making A Big Mess Of Their Own Name Change

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 16: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his third inning two run home run with Carlos Santana #41 and Jose Ramirez #11 while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 16, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Let’s Rename The Cleveland Baseball Team

David Roth

It's Dany Ramirez, the last player picked in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

Let Us Now Praise The Garbage Feast At The Heart Of The MLB Winter Meetings

Dave McKenna

Dick Allen, stylish to the last, throws out the first pitch at a Phillies game in 2009.

Dick Allen, Who Didn’t Like Fake Grass Or Being Fucked With, Is Dead

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


Dan McQuade

Zach Wheeler pitches in a grey Phillies uniform (red cap) in the 2020 season

The Phillies Are Reportedly Looking To Get Worse

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 25: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a win with teammates after during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Bryce Harper Wants You To Donate To This Incredibly Shady Anti-Trafficking Operation

This is a photo of Frank Menechino, and NOT Frank Catalanotto

White Sox Manager Tony La Russa: Let’s Remember Some Damn Guys

Why I Won’t Tell You Who’ll Be On My Hall Of Fame Ballot

Lauren Theisen

Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game

The Rays, Who Had The 28th-Highest Payroll Last Year, Are Reportedly Looking To Dump Salary

Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Mets spits

Robinson Canó Will Lose $24 Million After Testing Positive For Archaic Steroids

Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Don’t Let The Ricketts Family Off The Hook

Tom Ley

Theo Epstein’s Departure Is Another Bad Omen For The Cubs

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


Patrick Dubuque

How Baseball Was Solved, And Where It Got Us

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the field prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 20, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Kim Ng Is Finally A GM

A human cadaver positioned as if throwing a baseball at "Bodies...The Exhibition".

Interviews

An Astrophysicist Explains The Challenges Of De-Juicing The Baseball

Former Draft Bust Wins NL Cy Young Award


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Report: Tony La Russa Told Arresting Officer, “I’m A Hall-Of-Famer Baseball Person”

against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field on April 23, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tony La Russa Really Stepped In It

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after flying out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Dodgers Have A COVID-19 Outbreak And Nobody Seems To Care

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Justin Turner #10 and the Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game Six to win the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

MLB Concludes Investigation Of Justin Turner’s World Series Celebration, Determines He Shouldn’t Have Done That

Alex Cora makes a stupid face as manager of the Boston Red Sox, back before he was fired for being a cheater.

Red Sox Rehire Alex Cora, HEY LOOK OVER THERE

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
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Marc Normandin

A back field at a MLB training facility in Glendale, Arizona.

Senne v. MLB Could Deliver Real Change For Minor Leaguers

Detroit election workers work on counting absentee ballots for the 2020 general election at TCF Center on November 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. - President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with polls closed across the United States -- and the American people waiting for results in key battlegrounds still up for grabs. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

So Let’s Talk About Last Night

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 08: Special Advisor Tony La Russa of the Los Angeles Angels looks on during their summer workout at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 08, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

MLB