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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

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Ray Ratto

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOV. 20: Renel Brooks-Moon, the San Francisco Giants' PA announcer since 2000, poses for a portrait at Oracle Park on Friday, November 20, 2020, in San Francisco, Calif. Brooks-Moon, 62, was born in Oakland and is a Mills College graduate. Brooks-Moon has been using her longevity and voice to call out inequities in the hiring practices of the Giants and in Major League Baseball in general. They're listening. (Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

SFChronicleSocialJustice

The Giants Are Doing All The Little Things Wrong

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<div>Zach Buchanan has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, for the <em>Arizona Republic</em>, <em>Cincinnati Enquirer,</em> and most recently The Athletic. He also has been published in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, FanGraphs and <em>Baseball America</em>. He lives in Phoenix, where he prepares for the inevitable water crisis by living off Dr Pepper instead.</div>
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Zach Buchanan

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College Basketball

Terry Francona’s Next Act: Arizona Hoops Superfan

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Kathryn Xu

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on February 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox Workout

Dylan Ceases Toiling For The White Sox

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: &lt;&gt; during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers Can’t Buy A Natural Shortstop … Yet

J.D. Davis #7 of the San Francisco Giants singles in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies.

jd-davis-giants

The Giants Used A Loophole To Screw Over J.D. Davis

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1969: Nate Colbert #17 of the San Diego Padres poses for this photograph before an Major League Baseball game circa 1969. Colbert played for the Padres from 1969-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Colbert

San Diego Padres

Let’s Remember Nate Colbert, Padres Legend By Default

A’s ballpark rendering

A’s Unveil Renderings Of Yet Another Ballpark That Will Never Be Built

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Albert Burneko

(Original Caption) New York, NY: Converging arrows show the spot where a prodigious home run blasted by Mickey Mantle landed, during the first game of the Yanks-Senators twin-bill at Yankee Stadium on May 30. The towering shot, traveling 370 feet, struck the facade of the right field roof, just a few feet from going out of the stadium. No one has ever hit a fair ball out of this ball park. Mantle's monumental clout, which hit the stands 118 feet above the ground, came with two men on base and sparked the Yanks to a 4-3 win over Washington.

Trajectory of Mickey Mantle’s Home Run

A Scholarly Discourse On Which Types Of Dingers Are Best

TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.

Los Angeles Angels Photo Day

How To Watch Spring Training Baseball

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Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Michael Rubin attends Michael Rubin's MLBPA x Fanatics party at City Market Social House on July 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Michael Rubin’s MLBPA x Fanatics Party

Michael Rubin Will Never Get The Benefit Of The Doubt With Crummy Sports Apparel

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Lauren Theisen

Christy Mathewson head and shoulders portrait photo

Christy Mathewson, Major League Baseball Player, New York Giants, Head and Shoulders Portrait by Paul Thompson, 1910

How To Throw A Baseball And Live Forever

Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a home run

Chicago White Sox v Los Angeles Dodgers

Enjoy Shohei Ohtani’s Dodger Highlights While They’re Still Harmless

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


Jen Ramos Eisen

A cartoon of an outfield wall with an encroaching shadow over the player standing looking at it. It feels dark and desolate. The baseball stadium is empty.

Minors

The Life Of An International Minor League Baseball Player Has Never Been Simple

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Kelsey McKinney

CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 07: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws the ball against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on July 7, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cleveland Indians v Cincinnati Reds

The Answer To MLB’s Pants Problem Is Vests

<p>A professional baseball player. This is not his real name.</p>


John Wholestaff

Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani (17) in action, pitching vs San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles Angels vs San Francisco Giants

A Pitcher’s View On The Tommy John “Epidemic”

Here are three players showing three different ways to rock the diaper.

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Nike And Fanatics’ Innovative MLB Uniforms Leave Baseball Players With Unintentional Diapers

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Barry Petchesky

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 31: Arizona Diamondbacks principal owner Ken Kendrick and president Derrick Hall talk on the field prior to Game 4 of the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

World Series – Texas Rangers v. Arizona Diamondbacks – Game Four

Threats Are No Way To Do Business, Says Diamondbacks Owner Threatening To Move

Anthony Rendon walks away from the plate with a faraway, faintly sad look on his face after striking out against Cleveland in a game in May of 2023.

Los Angeles Angels v Cleveland Guardians

Anthony Rendon Is Already Feeling Pretty Angels


<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

View from seats on the first-base side of Ebbets Field as the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers opened the 1939 baseball season, Brooklyn, New York, New York, 1939.

Ebbets Field Opening Day

The Last Of The Brooklyn Dodgers

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies on September 19, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres

Nobody’s Buying Blake Snell

Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres stands during the daily workout at Peoria Sports Complex on February 12, 2024 in Peoria, Arizona.

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Nike And Fanatics Have Truly Fucked Up MLB’s New Uniforms

Newly acquired Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani puts on his jersey for the first time as Chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers Mark Walter looks on during a press conference on December 14, 2023 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

ohtani-jersey

Early Reviews Suggest That MLB’s New Jerseys Suck Ass

Washington Nationals v San Diego Padres

The Padres Squandered The Greatest Gift

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 19: Owner John Fisher of the Oakland Athletics stands in the stands during the game against the Houston Astros at the Oakland Coliseum on July 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Fisher

Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics

Look Who’s Come Crawling Back To Oakland

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, seen doing a kind of triumphant here-I-am gesture at the opening of The Sphere in September of 2023.

MLB