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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

New Defector Merch For Your Baby

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Merch v3

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Kathryn Xu

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a two run home run against AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves.

atlantaBravesLOSEpadres

Well Well Well, Not So Bad To Have A First-Round Bye Now, Is It

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Lauren Theisen

The Detroit Tigers celebrate after beating the Astros

Wild Card Series – Detroit Tigers v. Houston Astros – Game Two

They Let The Cats Get Hot!!

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

Pete Rose with gray hair, Pete Rose joking with Joe Morgan, Pete Rose singing with Vic Tayback, Pete Rose and his son looking out into the distance

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There Was A Time When Everyone Cared How Pete Rose Smelled

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Chris Thompson

Jorge Soler of the Braves smokes a cigar after his team clinched a playoff berth.

Jorge Soler

The Shambling, Half-Dead Braves Have Gone Far Enough

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Defector Staff

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after winning the NL West Division against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers

Everything We’re Looking Forward To In The 2024 MLB Playoffs

Boston Red Sox 2B Vaughn Grissom slides to home plate past the tag by Tampa Bay Rays C Logan Driscoll in the third inning.

red-Sox-Rays-Flop!

The 81-81 Red Sox Weren’t The Most Mediocre Team Of The Season

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Ray Ratto

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs

Pete Rose, All-American

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David Roth

Members of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, September 30, 2024.

New York Mets v. Atlanta Braves

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

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Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 23: A sign depicting Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf hangs from the upper deck during the ninth inning of a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Baltimore defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Baltimore Orioles v Chicago White Sox

South Side Stand Up: Your Owner’s Open Letter Wasn’t The League’s Worst

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

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Shohei Ohtani Ends His Season Dismantling The Entire Concept Of The Decimal System

Matt Thaiss of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out swinging during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26,2024. His helmet's all wonky on his head.

MLB: SEP 26 Angels at White Sox

Woof, The Angels

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

Los Angeles Angels v. Chicago White Sox

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

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Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics mascot, Stomper, waves to the crowd after the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. Today will be the final Athletics game played at the Coliseum. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics

The A’s Are Oakland’s No More

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008. It looks like he's looking at the Distraction logo at upper right of the frame.

New York Giants v Arizona Cardinals

Podcasts

The Plaxico Continuum

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres watches after throwing the ball to first base as part of a triple play as Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers ducks.

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The Padres Found The Coolest Way To Clinch

Rowdy Tellez

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Tampa Bay Rays v Seattle Mariners

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Riley Greene #31, Parker Meadows #22 and Matt Vierling #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 16, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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What I Like About The Tigers

C.J. Abrams

Nationals End Season By Demoting Leadoff Hitter Who Was In A Casino Until 8:00 A.M.

SAN DIEGO, CA - Chicago White Sox playes look out from the dugout during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox v San Diego Padres

The 2024 White Sox Have Achieved The Abominable

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first MLB player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers v Miami Marlins

Shohei Ohtani Is Playing A Sport Of His Own

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Red Sox at Comerica Park.

MLB: SEP 01 Red Sox at Tigers

Mild Card Season, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

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Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros points to his foot after grounding out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 17, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Houston Astros v San Diego Padres

Jose Altuve Ejected For Showing Feet