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Better Hate An Owner

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Death To The NCAA

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Why Your Team Sucks

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Barry Petchesky

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: Atlanta Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz (r) talks to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) and Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (16) at the pitching mound during the Atlanta Braves 2024 season Home Opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 5, 2024 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Elbows Are Exploding

<p>Annie Howard is a journalist and historian based in Chicago. She is currently at work on her debut manuscript, <em>The City Made Me Trans</em><i>.</i></p>


Annie Howard

an aerial view of an empty Guaranteed Rate Field

How To Fix Chicago’s White Sox–Shaped Black Hole

Ray Ratto

Fans hold up a "SELL" flag as the Boston Red Sox play the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum on April 02, 2024 in Oakland, California.

The A’s And Sacramento Will Pretend Not To Know Each Other

David Roth

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

The More Random The Pitcher, The Better The No-Hitter

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

The Wandering Athletics Right-Size Their Operation To A Rinky-Dink Minor-League Park In Sacramento

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kauffman Stadium is the home of the Kansas City Royals and beyond it is GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium which is the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Capital

The Chiefs And Royals Got What They Deserved

Kathryn Xu

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies salutes the crowd after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

A Homers-Only Diet Suits Bryce Harper Just Fine

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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

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Houston Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker watches infielder Grae Kessinger hit in the cages during workouts for Houston Astros pitchers and catchers at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

How Do Coaches Coach When Players Have Their Own Guys?

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: The shadow of a cemetery worker is cast on reclaimed gravestones in London City Cemetery on March 2, 2009 in London, England. The cemetery is piloting a scheme whereby graves over 75 years old become eligible for reclamation. New interments will be placed into the existing graves, the headstones will be turned around and re-used, carving the names of the newly deceased. Once a grave has been earmarked by English heritage the cemetery must wait one year to see if family members claim the existing grave. By conserving as many memorials as possible the City of London hopes to maintain the historic cemetery landscape and sustain buriel provisions for the future. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

Defunct Is Still Undefeated

Albert Burneko

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, mid-pitch, against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Wow! Blue Jays–Astros No-Hitter!

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of the game at loanDepot park on April 01, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

Mike Trout Is Still Doing Mike Trout Stuff

J.D. Davis takes the field at a nearly empty Oakland Coliseum.

A New Season Finds The Oakland Athletics In The Same Dumb Limbo

A screenshot of an ESPN broadcast, featuring a live win probability graphic displaying a 35-percent Dodgers win probability, and Chris Taylor making a beaver face.

ESPN’s Win Probability Graphic Wants To Give You Gambling Brain

Kelsey McKinney

Bryce Harper flips over a wall and into the camera well.

Uh-oh!

onion crank with missing written on top of it and some sad faces

Please Give Me Back The Damn Onion Crank

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs looks kind of wistful during the Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

A Fan’s Guide To Opening Day Cope

Dave McKenna

James Wood #50 of the Washington Nationals bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 15, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

That Time A D.C. Prep School Cast Away Nats Phenom James Wood

Defector Staff

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like, 2024 Edition

Baseball!

Shohei Ohtani #17 and Will Ireton of the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani’s Presser Reveals The Gaps In Translation

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Attorney Peter Angelos talks about his law practice and his hopes about buying the Orioles.

Peter Angelos Was The Ultimate Team Owner

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen while his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

MLB Has A Gambling Problem Even If Shohei Ohtani Doesn’t

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

MLB