defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_post_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_post_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_post_card_square

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_16x9_full_width

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_3x2_full_width

lede_article_featured_1x1

lede_article_featured_1x1_full_width

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_featured_flexible_full_width

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The Distraction logo is at upper left and the light above the stadium is lovely.

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 5

Podcasts

I Like To Get A Solid 12 Hours

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The background of the fans in the seats is indistinct, but Ohtani is in focus.

Game 3 Is The Legend, But The Blue Jays Are For Real

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 to win Game 5 of the 2025 World Series.

The Blue Jays Make The Dodgers Look Fake And Silly

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Four

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is A Canadian Hero

image

Kathryn Xu

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

guerreroGame4

They Can’t All Be The Most Memorable World Series Game Ever

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after popping out to end the twelfth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Three

Every Dodgers Almost-Homer In Extra Innings, Ranked

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting an RBI double

GettyImages-2243334378-min

The Blue Jays Won’t Let Shohei Ohtani Do That Again

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Game Three Freeman

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven

Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers points to the sky after pitching a complete game and winning Game Two of the 2025 World Series.

Yamamoto

They Can’t All Be Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
&nbsp;

Capture

Lucy Bloom

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Manager Dan Wilson #6 of the Seattle Mariners takes the ball from Bryan Woo #22 during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

American League Championship Series – Seattle Mariners v Toronto Blue Jays – Game Seven

How Not To Run A Bullpen

Shohei Ohtani rs rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Distraction logo is at upper left.

National League Championship Series – Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Four

No That’s Too Good, With Justin Halpern

Kurt Suzuki, left, takes questions after being announced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels by General Manager Perry Minasian during a press conference at the stadium in Anaheim, CA on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. He looks kind of freaked out.

Kurt Suzuki named manager of LA Angels

Congratulations Kurt Suzuki, You Get To Manage The Opossum House

Keith Paradise is a freelance writer who somehow won a Keystone Press Award during his 
decade spent as a newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania, where he covered sports, education, and 
the murder of a neighborhood turkey. Originally from Pittsburgh, he is a senior writer for 
Billiards Digest magazine and his name has appeared twice in the notable section of The Year’s 
Best Sports Writing anthology—including in 2024 for his Defector article on the rise and fall of 
sports clothing icon Starter.

unnamed

Keith Paradise

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 4: A general overall interior view of PNC Park in the fourth inning during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on September 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Why Are There Still Pirates Fans?

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after game seven of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

The Sounds Of Autumn

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a three-run home run to take the lead in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the American League Championship Series. He's like 18 inches off the ground and everyone in the stands is freaking out.

Championship Series – Seattle Mariners v Toronto Blue Jays – Game 7

More Of This, Please

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners.

guerreroMarinersBlueJays

Everything Is No Longer Coming Up Mariners

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during Game Four of the National League Championship Series

Championship Series – Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 4

Shohei Ohtani Plays The Greatest Baseball Game Of All Time

Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after striking out Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning during Game Four of the American League Championship Series. He is making "the Tim Robinson face."

Championship Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Seattle Mariners – Game 4

Night Of The Old Guy

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners in game three of the American League Championship Series on October 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

ALCS Game 3

Uh-Oh, Somebody Notified Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That The ALCS Was Happening

Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. He's been doing a lot of "looking on."

Division Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Three

Dave Roberts Can Afford To Take It Easy

New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and catcher Mike Piazza applaud

Braves v Mets X Valentine

The MLB App Won’t Stop Forcing Me To Remember 9/11

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners prepares to bat in the first inning, in front of the backdrop of the CN Tower.

Championship Series – Seattle Mariners v Toronto Blue Jays – Game 2

Everything’s Coming Up Mariners

AJSfPYY9_400x400-1

Kelsey McKinney

G3MR1BYaUAAWDaO

Brice Turang’s Body Keeps The Score (2-1, Dodgers)

Division Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies – Game 2

That’s Why You Pay For All Those Guys

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Hot Dog Guys or Loonie Dog Kings Jody Matheson (r) and Ryan Ruston ( l) get welcomed back to the park and looking forward to loonie dogs. This was taken on the day of the Toronto Blue Jays' 2025 home opener.

Blue jays season opener

Catch The Game Like Never Before