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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

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

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.

Chicago White Sox v Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani!!!!

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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.

New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies

Good Teams Make Their Players Better

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Tom Ley

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

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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)

Houston Astros v Los Angeles Dodgers

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

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Ray Ratto

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

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Barry Petchesky

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

Jose Canseco

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks v. Milwaukee Brewers

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)

Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 2-0 during a baseball game at Angel Stadium.

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.

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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.

San Francisco Giants v Milwaukee Brewers

The Wrong Lessons Learned

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Lauren Theisen

Joey Votto acknowledges the crowd before his first at bat

Colorado Rockies v Cincinnati Reds

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)

San Diego Padres v San Francisco Giants

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.

MLB: JUN 19 Blue Jays at Marlins

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.

MLB: JUN 17 Angels at Royals

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.

San Francisco Giants v St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals Are Not The Cardinals

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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)

Oakland Athletics Agree To Purchase Land In Las Vegas For New Stadium

Las Vegas A’s Begin Relocation Talks

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Oakland Athletics fans display signs during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 13, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Rays v Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s Fans Held A Raucous Wake For Their Team


<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

Michael Hermosillo of the Angels makes a catch in foul territory during the 2020 MLB season, while a bunch of creepy stuffed teddy bears look on.

Los Angeles Angels v Oakland Athletics

“I Almost Wished There Was Someone There To Curse At Me”: Isolation And Triumph In MLB’s Plague Season

Los Angeles Angels v Texas Rangers

Shohei Ohtani Might Lead These Angels To The Playoffs Yet

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Jonah Bride #26, Seth Brown #15, Jace Peterson #6, Esteury Ruiz #1 and Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after a 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 12, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Tonight’s A’s Game Will Be A Party Or A Wake

Andrew McCutchen singles for his 2000th career hit

New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates Have Youth, Nostalgia, And The NL Central On Their Side

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura (9) jumps in the air after hitting a home run in the ninth inning during a Major League Baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox on June 11, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

MLB: JUN 11 Marlins at White Sox

The Marlins Can Be A Bigger Fish In A Big Pond

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Chris Thompson

Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies Are On The Frontier Of Pitch-Clock Weirdness

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Anthony Bass #52 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Brewers v Toronto Blue Jays

Anthony Bass Tossed From Major-League Roster