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Sports

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 24: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after flying out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning in Game Seven of the Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

How Do You Cope?

Ray Ratto

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Adolis Garcia #53 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 23, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Adolis Garcia Is The Engine

Lauren Theisen

It’s On Max Scherzer, Again

Andre Kobayashi Deckrow is Post-Doctoral Associate in the Heritage Studies and Public History program and the Department of History at the University of Minnesota. He is currently working on a book about Japanese state-led migration to São Paulo in the 1920s and &#8217;30s. When not teaching or researching, he can be found rooting for Seattle sports teams or cooking Japanese food.

Andre Kobayashi Deckrow

Pedro Okuda of Team Brazil celebrates a win over Panama in the WBC qualifiers in 2012.

How Baseball Became Brazilian

Tom Ley

Jose Leclerc #25 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after striking out Jon Singleton #28 of the Houston Astros to end the eighth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

José Leclerc Stepped Away From The Void

Albert Burneko

Arizona's Zac Gallen and Philadelphia's Bryce Harper watch Harper's sixth-inning home run soar into the night during Philadelphia's 6-1 win in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Never Make Zac Gallen Face Kyle Schwarber And Bryce Harper In The Same Inning Ever Again

Max Scherzer of the Texas Rangers looks unhappy as he watches Jose Altuve's home run fly into the left-field stands.

More Like Min Scherzer

Evan Longoria and Ryne Nelson look disappointed about the ball that dropped

This Is How A Team Pleads For Mercy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 17: Alec Bohm #28 and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate a 10-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game Two of the Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Go D-Backs And Go Astros Because, Well, What Else Is There To Do?

Managing Partner John Fisher of the Oakland Athletics in the stands during the game against the Chicago Cubs at RingCentral Coliseum on April 17, 2023 in Oakland, California. The Cubs defeated the Athletics 10-1.

A’s Reliever Trevor May Retires, Tells Owner To “Take Mommy And Daddy’s Money Somewhere Else”

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng looks on prior to Game 1 of the Wild Card Series between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

That’s More Like The Marlins We All Know And Ignore

Yordan Alvarez is upset after striking out

Jordan Montgomery Won The First Three Rounds Against Yordan Álvarez

David Roth

Orioles reliever DL Hall leaves the mound while his teammates wait for the reliever who will relieve him during the team's Game 3 loss in the American League Divisional Series.

Nothing Is Promised, Even For The Orioles

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 11: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after winning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 of the Division Series at Chase Field on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 4-2. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

100 Wins Doesn’t Buy What It Used To

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) gestures to fans during game four of the NLDS game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on October 12, 2023, at Citizens Bank Park.

Reporters Are Allowed To Report

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Ronald Acuña Jr. throws the ball back into the infield during Game 4 of the NLDS.

Atlanta’s Cool Guys Forgot How To Be Cool

Kathryn Xu

Lance Lynn reacts after giving up a home run to Gabriel Moreno.

The Dodgers Need A 75-Game Series

Rocco Baldelli visits the mound to remove Caleb Thielbar

The Astros Were Not About To Lose A Battle Of Bullpens

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds second base ant stares down Orlando Arcia #11 of the Atlanta Braves during Game 3 of the NLDS on October 11, 2023 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Braves Are Being Babies About Bryce Harper’s Mean Little Stare

Steve Garvey, in the foreground, at his induction into the Legends of Dodgers Baseball inaugural class back in September of 2018. He's got sunglasses on and is clapping.

Politics

Nobody Wants Senator Steve Garvey

Manager Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins relieves Sonny Gray #54 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the Division Series at Target Field on October 10, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Negating Effects Of First-Half-Inning Run Scoring On Competitive Integrity And Entertainment Fidelity

Bryce Harper walks back to the dugout as the Atlanta Braves celebrate their win

The Phillies Went For The Throat And Missed

Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after hitting a double in the seventh inning during Game 2 of the Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

The Twins Unleashed Their Dudes

Justin Ellis

Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins at home hits a home run as the catcher and umpire observe during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 07, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Everything And Nothing Changed For The Twins In Just One Inning

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 20: General manager Billy Eppler of the New York Mets talks during a press conference to introduce pitcher Justin Verlander at Citi Field on December 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

MLB