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Defector Staff

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after winning the NL West Division against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Everything We’re Looking Forward To In The 2024 MLB Playoffs

Kathryn Xu

Boston Red Sox 2B Vaughn Grissom slides to home plate past the tag by Tampa Bay Rays C Logan Driscoll in the third inning.

The 81-81 Red Sox Weren’t The Most Mediocre Team Of The Season

Ray Ratto

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Pete Rose, All-American

David Roth

Members of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 23: A sign depicting Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf hangs from the upper deck during the ninth inning of a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Baltimore defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

South Side Stand Up: Your Owner’s Open Letter Wasn’t The League’s Worst

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Ends His Season Dismantling The Entire Concept Of The Decimal System

Matt Thaiss of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out swinging during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26,2024. His helmet's all wonky on his head.

Woof, The Angels

<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

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics mascot, Stomper, waves to the crowd after the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. Today will be the final Athletics game played at the Coliseum. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The A’s Are Oakland’s No More

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008. It looks like he's looking at the Distraction logo at upper right of the frame.

Podcasts

The Plaxico Continuum

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres watches after throwing the ball to first base as part of a triple play as Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers ducks.

The Padres Found The Coolest Way To Clinch

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Riley Greene #31, Parker Meadows #22 and Matt Vierling #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 16, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

What I Like About The Tigers

Nationals End Season By Demoting Leadoff Hitter Who Was In A Casino Until 8:00 A.M.

SAN DIEGO, CA - Chicago White Sox playes look out from the dugout during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The 2024 White Sox Have Achieved The Abominable

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first MLB player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Shohei Ohtani Is Playing A Sport Of His Own

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Red Sox at Comerica Park.

Mild Card Season, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

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)

Jose Altuve Ejected For Showing Feet

Lauren Theisen

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

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)

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 Players Association Sues Sportsbooks For NIL Thievery

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.

MLB