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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

Buy a Defector Gift Subscription, Get A (Different) Gift Subscription

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2025 gift subs

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David Roth

Edwin Diaz reacts with Pete Alonso of the New York Mets during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on April 17, 2025. Alonso's kind of whapping Diaz on the butt with his glove.

St. Louis Cardinals v New York Mets

They’re Outta Here

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Lauren Theisen

Pete Alonso #20 and Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals v New York Mets

The Mets Are Going To Look A Lot Different Next Year

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Bryce Young hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

2023 NFL Draft – Round 1

Capital

Whose League Is It Anyway?

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Ray Ratto

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 19: Portrait of (L-R) Second Baseman Jeff Kent #21 and Left Fielder Barry Bonds #25 both of the San Francisco Giants during game one of the World Series against the Anaheim Angels on October 19, 2002 at Edison Field in Anaheim, California. The Giants defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Jeff Kent / Barry Bonds

The Hall Of Fame Welcomes Jeff Kent And Not That Other Guy

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
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Marc Normandin

ob Nutting of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks with Adam Frazier #26 before the game against the New York Yankees during the home opener at PNC Park on April 4, 2025. He's got weird little sunglasses on. He looks like he's in a disguise somehow.

New York Yankees v Pittsburgh Pirates

Why MLB’s Cheapest Teams Are At Least Trying To Seem Like They’re Trying

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Kathryn Xu

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (9) sprinting to first base on a walk.

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Brandon Nimmo Will Now Do His Sprinting To First Base In Texas

Tarik Skubal warming up during the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners; in the background, out-of-focus camera flashes resemble a field of twinkling stars.

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Now Is The Time To Fantasize About Your Loser Club Trading For Tarik Skubal

osh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after grounding out to end the first inning.

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The Mariners Are Acting Like A Team That Wants To Win A World Series

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates the team's 8-6 win over the Athletics.

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What’s One Rigged Pitch?

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Tom Ley

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after striking out Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game at Oracle Park on June 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California. The Guardians won the game 4-2

Cleveland Guardians v San Francisco Giants

Gambling

Emmanuel Clase And Luis Ortiz Indicted For Elaborate Pitch-Rigging Scheme

Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta of the Cleveland Browns stands on the field prior to a game on December 17, 2017 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens v Cleveland Browns

November Is When The Colorado Rockies Do Their Best Work

<p><a href="https://josh-levin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://josh-levin.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2tqysV4T7Gh0gV7M0_bz7p">Josh Levin</a> is the creator and host of the sports history podcast “<a href="http://www.replaybooth.show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.replaybooth.show&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1-rpGWGr1dKP0HBTa_zohZ">Replay Booth</a>.” He’s also the author of <em><a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/josh-levin/the-queen/9780316513272//?lens=little-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/josh-levin/the-queen/9780316513272//?lens%3Dlittle-brown&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw357vGVOyJU7dDVIkjqFQxu">The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth</a></em>, the creator of the podcast “<a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/one-year/s6/1990" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://slate.com/podcasts/one-year/s6/1990&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LJrco6Xq1YK3vAueOtmRC">One Year</a>,” the host of two seasons of “Slow Burn” (on <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s4/david-duke" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s4/david-duke&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PiV8w71WaqaTvzDwNTrOS">David Duke</a> and <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s10/rise-of-fox-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s10/rise-of-fox-news&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1762023504534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LTehX3p4ZiFY9vhna8azk">Fox News</a>), and the former cohost of “Hang Up and Listen.”</p>


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Josh Levin

Illustration of Mr. Met wearing a deerstalker cap investigating some buttons reading "Huckle."

Mr. Met Wilbur Huckle

Stories

Wilbur Huckle For President: Solving A 61-Year-Old Mets Mystery

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers turns a game-ending double play to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Game Seven of the 2025 World Series.

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Toronto Blue Jays – Game 7

The Dodgers Never Had It Made

Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the fans as he exits the game during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Toronto Blue Jays – Game Seven

Living And Dying With Max Scherzer

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Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 01: Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Isiah Kiner-Falefa #7 of the Toronto Blue Jays at home in the ninth inning during Game Seven of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Toronto Will Never Get Over This

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is mobbed by teammates as they celebrate winning the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Will Not Be Denied

Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 31, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) leaps to Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Enrique Hernandez (8) after the final out while Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (47) is out at second in the ninth inning and Los Angeles Dodgers Miguel Rojas celebrates during game six of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Roger Centre on Friday, October 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Dodgers vs Bllue Jays in Toronto, Canada

Six Isn’t Enough

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The Distraction logo is at upper left and the light above the stadium is lovely.

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 5

Podcasts

I Like To Get A Solid 12 Hours

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The background of the fans in the seats is indistinct, but Ohtani is in focus.

Game 3 Is The Legend, But The Blue Jays Are For Real

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


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Chris Thompson

Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 to win Game 5 of the 2025 World Series.

The Blue Jays Make The Dodgers Look Fake And Silly

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Four

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is A Canadian Hero

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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They Can’t All Be The Most Memorable World Series Game Ever

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after popping out to end the twelfth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

World Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Three

Every Dodgers Almost-Homer In Extra Innings, Ranked

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting an RBI double

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The Blue Jays Won’t Let Shohei Ohtani Do That Again

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Game Three Freeman

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven