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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

Shohei Ohtani exultantly celebrating after getting the final out in Japan's victory over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

World Baseball Classic Championship: United States v Japan

The World Baseball Classic Showed The Sport Where To Find Its Joy

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David Roth

A Mark Rothko painting, featuring his signature planes of color, on display in Munich's Kunsthalle in 2008.

Mark Rothko – Retrospective Exhibition

Arts And Culture

Bob Nightengale Is Capturing The World Baseball Classic As Only He Can

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Tom Ley

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 20: Kensuke Kondoh #8 and Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan celebrate after scoring on a three-run home run hit by Masataka Yoshida #34 in the seventh inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game between Team Mexico and Team Japan at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

2023 World Baseball Classic: Semifinal Team Mexico v. Team Japan

Internationals

Big-Time Games Call For Big-Time Players

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Chris Thompson

Trea Turner socks a huge freaking dinger.

Trea Turner Is Now Also A God Of Dingers

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Edwin Diaz #39 of Puerto Rico is helped off the field after being injured during the on-field celebration after defeating the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic Pool D at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Pool D: Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic

This Sucks So Bad For Edwin Díaz [Update]

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Kelsey McKinney

New York Mets v Houston Astros

I Am Not Weak And Afraid Like Major League Baseball’s Official Scorers

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Mitch Bratt #28 of Team Canada looks on in the dugout during Game 6 of Pool C between Team Canada and Team USA at Chase Field on Monday, March 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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It’s Hard To Be A Youth At The World Baseball Classic

Ian Gibault with a broken T on his uniform

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His Is So Supid

Oh No! A Picher Had A Uniform Acciden

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Luis Paez-Pumar

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: Salvador Perez #13 of Venezuela celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning against Puerto Rico at loanDepot park on March 12, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Pool D: Venezuela v Puerto Rico

Nobody Is Having More Fun At The WBC Than Venezuela

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson looking very sad after making an out against the Royals in July of 2022.

Kansas City Royals v Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers Flipped The Switch And Nothing Happened

Shohei Ohtani looking swole as hell during Samurai Japan's training before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with The Distraction logo at upper left.

Japan Training Session

Podcasts

My Fabulous Vacation Home On Naboo, With Michael Schur

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

A Compass Group employee works the hot dog concession at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Cleveland Indians v Chicago White Sox

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A Fight Is Brewing In Chicago Between A Multinational Concessions Business And Its Workers

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Barry Petchesky

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Who Needs Umpires, Anyway?

National League Championship Series Game 5: San Diego Padres v. Philadelphia Phillies

John Middleton Spoke The Forbidden Words Of Sports Ownership

Spring Training Speech Turns Terry Francona Into Mr. Bean

Arbitration Is Broken Because Owners Broke It

Atlanta Braves v Chicago Cubs

The Search For The Real Jason Heyward Continues

Jacob deGrom at his introductory press conference after signing a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers Introduce Jacob deGrom

The Jacob deGrom Experience Is A Worrying Thing

20230215E0621DS - Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks to the media

Spring Training Cactus League Media Day

The Owners Are Getting Ornery

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (52) exits the game in the fifth inning during a regular season game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on August 06, 2022, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

Mike Clevinger

Mike Clevinger Told His Story, So Olivia Finestead Told Hers Too

Maybe It’s A Bad Idea To Alienate Your Best Player In Order To Save Some Pocket Change

Joe Martinez, MLB Vice President of On Field Strategy, explains the new bases to the media

On-Field Rules Demonstration

America’s Sportswriters Confirm: Bases Big

National League Championship Series Game 3: San Diego Padres v. Philadelphia Phillies

Where The Ghost Runner Fails

League Championship Series – Boston Red Sox v Houston Astros – Game Four

Joe West Spending His Retirement Going To War With Wikipedia Editors

Harold Castro of Leones del Caracas reacts after hitting a home run against Tiburones de la Guaira during the Game Six of the Venezuelan Baseball League Championship Series at the Universitario stadium in Caracas, on January 30, 2023.

BASEBALL-VENEZUELA-TIBURONES DE LA GUAIRA-LEONES DEL CARACAS

Sports Don’t Get Much Better Than The Venezuelan Baseball Final