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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

<p>Russell A. Carleton is an author at Baseball Prospectus and of the forthcoming book <a href="https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-new-ballgame-products-9781637272268.php?page_id=30&amp;cid=434862" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-new-ballgame-products-9781637272268.php?page_id%3D30%26cid%3D434862&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1680985638870000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_Ie5IAhP6DgMCeMB7in79"><em>The New Ballgame: The Not-So-Hidden Forces Shaping Baseball</em></a> from Triumph Books, available in June 2023.</p>


Russell Carleton

Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres' high-fiving after a Yankees win on April 2, 2023.

San Francisco Giants v New York Yankees

Welcome To Nowhere

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Tom Ley

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres looks out at the field in the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 10, 2023 in New York City.

San Diego Padres v New York Mets

Small Ball Returned To Torture Yu Darvish

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Lauren Theisen

Chicago White Sox v Pittsburgh Pirates

Oneil Cruz, Pirates Suffer Devastating Injury

Oakland Athletics v Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays Have Chewed Up The Worst Teams In Baseball And Spat Them In The Garbage

Jake McCarthy goes into the seats for a catch

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Jake McCarthy’s Catch Is A Dying Breed

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Chris Thompson

The Strain Of Sucking Mondo Ass Is Wearing On Anthony Rendon

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California-based minor league baseball writer.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

An image of the baseball field at Stockton Ballpark in Stockton, California. There's a baseball field, and rows of plastic chairs for fans to sit in.

The Stockton Ballpark

Minor League Baseball’s New CBA Still Won’t Solve All Its Transportation Woes

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Albert Burneko

A close play on a steal attempt at second base, between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians.

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This Is So Stupid

It’s Too Easy To Steal Bases!

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Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 01: Ryan McKenna #26 of the Baltimore Orioles drops what would have been the game ending out during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

Well, That Has To Be The Most Painful Way To Lose A Baseball Game

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

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

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.

Adley Rutschman Has The Power

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!

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