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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

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Patrick Redford

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros points to his foot after grounding out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 17, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Houston Astros v San Diego Padres

Jose Altuve Ejected For Showing Feet

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Lauren Theisen

Washington Nationals v New York Mets

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

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Barry Petchesky

San Francisco Giants fan "McCovey Dave" Edlund, of Los Altos, wears a World Series ring on his head in McCovey Cove before Game 4 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&amp;T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants fan “McCovey Dave” Edlund, of Los Altos, wears a World Series ring on his head in McCovey Cove before Game 4 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on

Boat Guy Has Balls

Dave McKenna

A general view of the DraftKings logo in the outfield during the Major League baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphis, PA.

MLB: JUN 22 Nationals at Phillies

Gambling

MLB Players Association Sues Sportsbooks For NIL Thievery

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Ray Ratto

Pablo Sandoval smiling, with the shadow of his hat casting an Oakley Blade-shaped shadow across his eyes, before a San Francisco Giants game in 2019.

COLORADO ROCKIES VS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, MLB

Here’s To The Pitching Panda Of Staten Island

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Kathryn Xu

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.

Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole Shows Remarkable Self-Awareness, Pays The Price

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Twins Release Minor League Catcher Accused Of Tipping Pitches Because He Wanted To Go Home

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Philadelphia Phillies v Toronto Blue Jays

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (52) celebrates after robbing a home run to end the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 10, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

MLB: SEP 10 Cubs at Dodgers

It’s A Bad Day To Be A Fly Ball When Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Around

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

deGromRangers

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

MLB: APR 03 Padres at Dodgers

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

T.J. McFarland #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Coliseum.

Seattle Mariners v Oakland Athletics

What Defector Saw At “The Janson Junk Game”

<p>Michael Rosen is a transportation planner and author of the <a href="https://pitchplots.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pitchplots.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725119706246000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LfT9S-qtmoiPwAXtsicWT">&#8220;Pitch Plots&#8221;</a> Substack. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>


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Michael Rosen

An umpire mediates between two people networking

SABR

Looking For Friends Among Baseball’s Most Passionate Nerds

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Samer Kalaf

White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore argues with umpire and gets ejected from the game

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The White Sox Can Always Find A Way To Get Lower

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run in the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers v Los Angeles Angels

The Angels Walked Shohei Ohtani To Face Mookie Betts. What Happened Next Will Shock You.

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Chris Thompson

Paul Skenes

A Troubleshooting Paul Skenes Is Somehow Even More Frightening

James Wood celebrates

James Wood Sounds Like A Happy Future

An aerial view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats.

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento Just Needs To Let The A’s Come To Them

Shohei Ohtani holds Decoy in his arms while Decoy licks at his face.

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Life's Rich Pageant

Just A Bunch Of High-Resolution Photos Of Shohei Ohtani And His Dog

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.

julioRodriguezMarinersWin!

I Believe In The Seattle Mariners

Travis Jankowski celebrates after the Rangers win

Texas Rangers v Chicago White Sox – Game Two

White Sox Almost Win


<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

An illustration of several baseball mitts trying to catch the same ball

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The Minor League Shrink And The Growing Gap Between Triple-A And The Bigs

Making MLB history as the first player to play for both teams in the same game, Danny Jansen #28 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field for game one of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 26, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox – Game One

August Is For Weird Baseball

Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run.

Jackson Merrill

Jackson Merrill Has Already Achieved Dude Status

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: (L-R) Alex Verdugo #24, Aaron Judge #99 and Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on August 25, 2024 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Colorado Rockies v New York Yankees

We Need A Better Phrase For Back-To-Back-To-Back Home Runs