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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

<p>Ginny Searle is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Ginny Searle

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the assembled press before a Brewers home game in May of 2023.

San Francisco Giants v Milwaukee Brewers

The Wrong Lessons Learned

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Lauren Theisen

Joey Votto acknowledges the crowd before his first at bat

Colorado Rockies v Cincinnati Reds

The Reds Have Their Heart Back

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Ray Ratto

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Mike Yastrzemski #5 of the San Francisco Giants hits a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the tenth inning to defeat the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on June 19, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

San Diego Padres v San Francisco Giants

The Giants Are Bubbling

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Tom Ley

Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez (3) connects to go five for five in the seventh inning during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Miami Marlins on Monday, June 19, 2023 at LoanDepot Part in Miami, Fla.

MLB: JUN 19 Blue Jays at Marlins

Luis Arráez Is On .400 Watch

KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 17: Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) follows through as he hits a solo hoe run in the seventh inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Angles and Kansas City Royals on June 17, 2023 at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

MLB: JUN 17 Angels at Royals

Shohei Ohtani Is Hammering That Damn Baseball

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David Roth

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras makes a pouty face after being retired in a game against the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco Giants v St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals Are Not The Cardinals

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Davey Martinez: Look At This Photograph

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 21: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was shot with a fisheye lens.) A view shows the Las Vegas Strip behind the site that the Oakland Athletics agreed in principle to purchase from Red Rock Resorts Inc. for a potential new ballpark on April 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The A's President Dave Kaval said the deal for the 49-acre plot of land, formerly the home of Wild Wild West Gambling Hall &amp; Hotel, could be used to relocate the Major League Baseball franchise from Oakland to Las Vegas. The team will now work on a public-private partnership to build a USD 1.5 billion, 30,000-to-35,000-seat, partially retractable-roof stadium in time for the 2027 season. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics Agree To Purchase Land In Las Vegas For New Stadium

Las Vegas A’s Begin Relocation Talks

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Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Oakland Athletics fans display signs during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 13, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Rays v Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s Fans Held A Raucous Wake For Their Team


<p>Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.</p>


Richard Staff

Michael Hermosillo of the Angels makes a catch in foul territory during the 2020 MLB season, while a bunch of creepy stuffed teddy bears look on.

Los Angeles Angels v Oakland Athletics

“I Almost Wished There Was Someone There To Curse At Me”: Isolation And Triumph In MLB’s Plague Season

Los Angeles Angels v Texas Rangers

Shohei Ohtani Might Lead These Angels To The Playoffs Yet

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Jonah Bride #26, Seth Brown #15, Jace Peterson #6, Esteury Ruiz #1 and Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after a 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 12, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Tonight’s A’s Game Will Be A Party Or A Wake

Andrew McCutchen singles for his 2000th career hit

New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates Have Youth, Nostalgia, And The NL Central On Their Side

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura (9) jumps in the air after hitting a home run in the ninth inning during a Major League Baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox on June 11, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

MLB: JUN 11 Marlins at White Sox

The Marlins Can Be A Bigger Fish In A Big Pond

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Chris Thompson

Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies Are On The Frontier Of Pitch-Clock Weirdness

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Anthony Bass #52 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Brewers v Toronto Blue Jays

Anthony Bass Tossed From Major-League Roster

Los Angeles Dodgers v Cincinnati Reds

Those Were Two Great Days To Root For The Reds

Fans hang signs at Oakland Coliseum calling for John Fisher to sell the Athletics.

John Fisher’s Lackeys Eat Shit In Contentious Stadium Financing Hearing, May Win Anyway

A rainbow Red Sox logo on the video board at Fenway Park

Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox

No Straights At Pride Night

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays watches recording on the iPad in the dugout after getting pulled from the game in the first inning against the Houston Astros in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Houston Astros v Toronto Blue Jays

Alek Manoah Blew His Way Out Of The Majors

A rainbow over a mostly empty Oakland Coliseum.

The Athletics’ Las Vegas Dreams Are At Least Temporarily On Hold

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Kelsey McKinney

Detroit Tigers v Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies Finally Had Some Fun

Oakland Athletics v Miami Marlins

There’s No Bottom In Oakland

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 25: Noah Syndergaard #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 25, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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