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Kathryn Xu

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his walkoff walk as Julio Rodríguez #44 jumps on home plate.

The Mariners Find Catharsis In A Walk-Off Walk

Barry Petchesky

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 08: A general view of the Progressive Field scoreboard with Opening Day signage prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Are The Cleveland Guardians Creating A Dynamic Brand Experience That Deepens The Connection Between The Team And Its Fans, And Reflects The Team’s History, Its Commitment To Cleveland, And Its Vision For The Future, On And Off The Field?

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

If You’re Going To Get Food Poisoning, At Least Visit Flavortown First

Side-by-side photos of Luis M. Castillo and Luis F. Castillo, both Mariners pitchers.

The Definitive Guide To Mariners Pitchers Named Luis Castillo


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Topps baseball cards featuring the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, are seen during the Washington Nationals media preview day at Nationals Park on Friday, March 21, 2025.

That’s Too Many Baseball Cards!

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


Chris Thompson

Stumbling Minnesota Twins Struggle With Clocks, Gizmos, Rules, And Authority

Victor Robles Demonstrates What Trying Can Get You

<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

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting speaks during the 2024 Pirates Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 24, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is kind of shrugging and looks like he is wearing a disguise somehow.

Are The Pittsburgh Pirates Really In Dire Straits?

Ray Ratto

Decorative bunting blows in the wind at Sutter Health Park which is decked out in opening day decorations for the A’s home opener in Sacramento, Calif., on Monday, March 31, 2025.

West Sacramento Has The A’s, Whether They Want Them Or Not

With Two Hits, Rafael Devers Makes Dylan Crews Mayor Of Bozo Town

Jarred Kelenic #24 of the Atlanta Braves is forced out at second base by Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Braves May Never Win A Game

On a homer to right center by the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, the Phillies and visiting team bullpens are visible on a TV broadcast. Both teams’ bullpens have doors in front of the benches for relievers to sit on, but most of them are open. There are also ads for Hatfield meats, Temple Health, the Pennsylvania Lottery ("Play to win!"), Independence Blue Cross, and Budweiser visible in the shot.

Philly Fan Hecklers Thwarted By Doors

David Roth

Willson Contreras On Eating Grip Tape: “It Was Disgusting. It Was A Bad Taste.”

Lauren Theisen

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux (9) disagrees with umpire Andy Fletcher who called him out on strikes in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Life Isn’t Fair. Why Should The Strike Zone Be?

Austin Wells of the New York Yankees hits a home run with a torpedo bat.

What Is The Deal With The Yankees’ Weird Bats?

Spare A Thought For Baseball’s Poor Flailing Bozos

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kyle Stowers #28 of the Miami Marlins receives a gatorade bath after hitting a walk off single to defeat Pittsburgh Pirates on their Opening Day game at loanDepot park on March 27, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

The Marlins Walk It Off, Again And Again And Again

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a an RBI double in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2025 in New York City.

Aaron Judge Destroys Pitchers, So Don’t Be A Pitcher And You’ll Be Fine

Defector Staff

The exterior of Shibe Park, the baseball stadium in Philadelphia. Ca. 1913

Staff Chat

Take Me Out To The Staff Chat

Baseball!

Tom Ley

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kelsey McKinney

Studio portrait of members of the Syracuse Star baseball team, Syracuse, New York , 1877 .

An MLB Preview Containing All The Information One Could Possibly Hope To Ascertain About The 2025 Season

A black-and-white image of Ray Fosse, in an old-timey Oakland A's uniform, bossing around a bunch of lumpy '70s guys at an A's fantasy camp in

Zero Lessons From 54 Years Of My Fantasy Baseball League

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 12, 2024: Max Muncy #72 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Hohokam Stadium on March 12, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Max Muncy

A Second Max Muncy Has Hit MLB

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the dugout in the third inning during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at BayCare Ballpark on March 2, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida.

Life's Rich Pageant

Bob, That’s The Wrong Bryce!

Jackie Robinson, in military uniform, becomes the first African American to sign with a white professional baseball team. He signs a contract with the minor league club in Montreal, a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Department Of Defense Backtracks After Deleting Jackie Robinson Article For “Woke DEI”