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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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David Roth

New York Mayor Eric Adams throws out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in May of 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

Politics

Local Politicians Enthused By Return Of Base Ball

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Albert Burneko

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Los Angeles Angel Of Anaheim Does Amazing Baseball Thing, For Naught

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Chris Thompson

John Angelos speaks to press during spring training.

Instead Of Showing Financials As Promised, Orioles CEO John Angelos Offers Three Minutes Of Deranged Horse Shit

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Tom Ley

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 30: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park on March 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

Adley Rutschman Has The Power

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Barry Petchesky

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Washington Nationals walks back to the dug out during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Parks on September 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Baltimore Orioles v Washington Nationals

It’s Opening Day For Haters, Too

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Laura Wagner

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Minor Leaguers And MLB Are On The Verge Of A Historic CBA

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Defector Staff

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 28: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 5-0.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Philadelphia Phillies

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like

Gordon McRae as Curly McLain in Oklahoma!

This Is So Stupid

Baseball!

<p>Rob Mains is a writer at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Rob Mains

Cincinnati Reds CEO Bob Castellini and disgraced Reds legend Pete Rose yuk it up at an event honoring Rose's hit record, in 2010.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Cincinnati Reds

What The 2023 Forbes Data Tell Us About The Business Of Baseball

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<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
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Vince Guerrieri

(Original Caption) Cardinals Clinch NL pennant. St. Louis, Missouri: Redbird coach Wares (right) shakes hands with winning pitcher Max Lanier, after the first game of a double header with the Cubs when the Cardinals clinched the National League pennant again this year. (Left to right seated) Chuck Klein; Lanier; Stan Musial; (left to right standing) George Munger; Ernie White; manager Billy Southworth; Danny Litwhiler; owner Sam Breadon, and Wares.

Teammates Congratulating Max Lanier

How The Cardinals Nearly Lost The War For St. Louis

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Ray Ratto

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 21: The Green Monster is painted ahead of 2023 MLB Opening Day on March 21, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Fenway Park Prepares for 2023 Opening Day

Baseball Is A Buffet

Relief pitcher Sergio Romo #54 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after getting out of the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the MLB game at Chase Field on April 8, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona.

San Francisco Giants v Arizona Diamondbacks

Sergio Romo’s Sendoff Was Almost Perfect

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Anthony Volpe #77 of the New York Yankees smiles during Spring Training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 23, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

New York Yankees Spring Training

The Yankees Could Be Meaner

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall (23) exchanges a broken bat handle for a new bat with a bat boy during the Atlanta Braves vs. Baltimore Orioles MLB game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 15, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.

MLB: SEP 15 Braves at Orioles

We Will Finally Fix Baseball By Holding Bat Kids Accountable

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This Will Not Be Finished Until Mike Trout Is Allowed To Pitch To Shohei Ohtani

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan pitches in the top of the 9th inning during World Baseball Classic Championship between United States and Japan at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Championship: United States v Japan

Pitches Shohei Ohtani Threw To Mike Trout, Ranked

Shohei Ohtani exultantly celebrating after getting the final out in Japan's victory over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

The World Baseball Classic Showed The Sport Where To Find Its Joy

A Mark Rothko painting, featuring his signature planes of color, on display in Munich's Kunsthalle in 2008.

Mark Rothko – Retrospective Exhibition

Arts And Culture

Bob Nightengale Is Capturing The World Baseball Classic As Only He Can

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 20: Kensuke Kondoh #8 and Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan celebrate after scoring on a three-run home run hit by Masataka Yoshida #34 in the seventh inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game between Team Mexico and Team Japan at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

2023 World Baseball Classic: Semifinal Team Mexico v. Team Japan

Internationals

Big-Time Games Call For Big-Time Players

Trea Turner socks a huge freaking dinger.

Trea Turner Is Now Also A God Of Dingers

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Edwin Diaz #39 of Puerto Rico is helped off the field after being injured during the on-field celebration after defeating the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic Pool D at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Pool D: Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic

This Sucks So Bad For Edwin Díaz [Update]

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Kelsey McKinney

New York Mets v Houston Astros

I Am Not Weak And Afraid Like Major League Baseball’s Official Scorers

Mitch Bratt #28 of Team Canada looks on in the dugout during Game 6 of Pool C between Team Canada and Team USA at Chase Field on Monday, March 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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It’s Hard To Be A Youth At The World Baseball Classic

Ian Gibault with a broken T on his uniform

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His Is So Supid

Oh No! A Picher Had A Uniform Acciden

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Luis Paez-Pumar

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: Salvador Perez #13 of Venezuela celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning against Puerto Rico at loanDepot park on March 12, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Pool D: Venezuela v Puerto Rico

Nobody Is Having More Fun At The WBC Than Venezuela