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<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs argues with home plate umpire Erich Baccus #12 after a call in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Ross Was Very Calmly Mad As Heck

Tom Ley

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels walks to the dugout after being replaced during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 04, 2023 in San Diego, California.

It’s Been A Very Bad Few Days For The Angels

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

Domingo German #0 of the New York Yankees pitches to Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on June 28, 2023 in Oakland, California. Ruiz made the final out in a no-hit perfect game for German, defeating the Athletics 11-0.

The Perfect Game That Also Sucked 

Ray Ratto

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 23: A detail of the MLB All Star Game patch on a Seattle Mariners jersey during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, June 23, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

It’s Good That Every Team Gets A Guy

Barry Petchesky

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: Seth Brown #15 of the Oakland Athletics trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run off Keynan Middleton #99 of the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the seventh inning at RingCentral Coliseum on July 01, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

There Is No Easy Part Of The Schedule When You’re The White Sox

Lauren Theisen

Tommy Pham waits for the mound visit to end

Tommy Pham As Intense As Ever, But In A More Productive Way

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Domingo German #0 of the New York Yankees celebrates his no-hit perfect game against the Oakland Athletics, defeating them 11-0 at RingCentral Coliseum on June 28, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

All The Weight Of A Perfect Game

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox makes an error as he throws to second base during the second inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 3, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Red Sox Have Never Felt Smaller

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels watches his opposite field solo homerun, to take a 3-1 lead over the Chicago White Sox, during the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 27, 2023 in Anaheim, California.

Shohei Ohtani!!!!

David Roth

Reliever Jeff Brigham leaves the mound after hitting two straight batters to plate the winning run in a Mets loss against the Phillies.

Good Teams Make Their Players Better

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 25: Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets and umpire Erich Bacchus #12 speak during the ninth inning of a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Maybe The Mets Are Just Bad

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: Ryne Stanek #45 of the Houston Astros reacts to a balk call from second base umpire Junior Valentine #25 as he comes off the field, allowing Jonny Deluca #89 of the Los Angeles Dodgers to score a run for an 8-7 Dodgers lead, after the end of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Astros Reliever Melts Down After Balk Call Gives Dodgers Game-Winning Run

Jordan Lyles Finally Got His Win, Against The Rays Of All Teams

30 May 1993: Pitcher Jose Canseco of the Texas Rangers prepares to throw the ball during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was his last inning as a pitcher and he returned to outfielder duties. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

Who Is The Best Position Player To Be An Emergency Pitcher?

MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 20: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds second base in the first inning during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Look At Corbin Carroll Go!

Anaheim, CA - June 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

There Is No Fair Value For Shohei Ohtani

Edward Olivares #14 of the Kansas City Royals dives for but misses the ball in the outfield during the 4th inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Kauffman Stadium on June 14, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Royals Are Tiptoeing Around The Basement

<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.

The Wrong Lessons Learned

Joey Votto acknowledges the crowd before his first at bat

The Reds Have Their Heart Back

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)

The Giants Are Bubbling

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.

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.

Shohei Ohtani Is Hammering That Damn Baseball

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

The Cardinals Are Not The Cardinals

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)

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