CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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.

Defector

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Tom Ley

The Lightning Strike That Rewired My Brain

Laura Wagner

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 26: The closed box office is shown at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 26, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees Opening Day game scheduled for today, along with the entire MLB season, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An MLB Network Freelancer Talks Life In Lockout Limbo

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


Chris Thompson

Let’s Remember Some Locked-Out MLB Players, Day 16


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/justin_klugh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Justin Klugh</a> is a writer for Baseball Prospectus. His work has appeared on FanGraphs, The Athletic, and  SB Nation. He hosts &#8220;The Diry Inning,&#8221; a podcast about the dumbest, funniest, or most obscure innings in Phillies history.</p>


Justin Klugh

The 38-foot-high leftfield wall in York, Pennsylvania's minor league stadium, the Arch Nemesis.

In The Shadow Of The Arch Nemesis

Ray Ratto

ESPN Boldly Asks: What If These Two Generational Athletes Were Just Average Athletes?

Let’s Remember Some Locked-Out MLB Players, Day 13

<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>
<div class="gs">
<div class="">
<div class="WhmR8e" data-hash="0"></div>
</div>
</div>


Marc Normandin

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred talks to Astros GM James Click during the 2021 World Series.

MLB Owners Have Forgotten That They Always Lose Lockouts

Let’s Remember Some Locked-Out MLB Players, Day 5

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Your Guide To The Sad Lockout Filler Blogs On MLB.com

David Roth

Mets owner Steve Cohen and Mets mascot Mr. Met, seen at the opening of a mass vaccination site at CitiField in February of 2021.

Podcasts

Lockout Mindset And Dog Talk, With Lindsey Adler

Let’s Remember Some Locked-Out MLB Players, Day 1

Barry Petchesky

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 12: Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks during a press conference announcing a partnership with the Players Alliance during the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Coors Field on July 12, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Let’s Be Very Clear About What’s Going On Here

Corey Seager, seen here sitting on his butt tossing a baseball up in the air back when he was with the Dodgers, and before he joined the Rangers.

Here’s To The Texas Rangers And What They’re Trying To Do

at Dodger Stadium on July 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Oh Hell Yes, Hall Of Fame Arguing Season Is Here

New Mets GM Billy Eppler, seen here in 2019 when he was the GM of the Los Angeles Angels.

The Mets Finally Filled The Least Desirable Position In Baseball


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of <em>Baseball Prospectus</em> and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.</p>



<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Craig Goldstein and Patrick Dubuque

The K-Zone featured in MLB broadcasts, seen here during a 2019 Cardinals/Braves game.

It’s Time To Get Rid Of The K-Zone

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Buster Posey #28 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after a single by Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in game 5 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on October 14, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Buster Posey’s Exit Is His Acme

Kelsey McKinney

General manager Jed Hoyer of the Chicago Cubs show off the World Series Championship ring before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

A Really Good Idea I Have: Make The World Series Rings Normal-Sized

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred looks on prior to Game One of the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Who’s Ready For The MLB Lockout?

Lauren Theisen

Has Jorge Soler’s Home Run Hit The Ground Yet?

Albert Burneko

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: An Atlanta Braves braves fan reacts following Houston Astros 9-5 win in Game Five of the World Series at Truist Park on October 31, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Here Are Some Dishonest Defenses Of Baseball

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves makes a pitching change during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Five of the World Series at Truist Park on October 31, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Too Many Pitching Changes, Not Enough Scapegoats

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros reacts after a pinch-hit single against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game Five of the World Series at Truist Park on October 31, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A Fond Farewell And Good Riddance To Pitchers Hitting. You Were Abominable. I’ll Miss You.

Everybody Got What They Came For

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics argues with umpire Mark Carlson #6 after a call was reversed during the seventh inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 18, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Bob Melvin Is Full Of Surprises