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Sports

David Roth

of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball hit by Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 4, 2026.

Jo Adell Stole Three Homers And A Win From The Mariners

Kathryn Xu

Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up prior to a spring training game.

Is Konnor Griffin Actually 19 Years Old? Let’s Discuss

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Podcasts

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

Tom Ley

C.B. Bucknor stands with his arms crossed

C.B. Bucknor Fucking Up All Over The Place

Lauren Theisen

Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo

Justin Verlander’s Had Better Days

Kelsey McKinney

Liam Hicks #34 of the Miami Marlins rounds second base after hitting a two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning

It Is Time To Canonize A New Baseball Saint

Ray Ratto

Athletics OF Lawrence Butler reacts after striking out during the MLB game between the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves on March 30th, 2026.

The Sacramento Athletics Are A Wind Farm

Luis Paez-Pumar

Barry Petchesky

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres enters the game in the ninth inning during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

Music

Defector’s Resident Nu Metalheads Discuss Mason Miller’s Nu Entrance Music

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A detail shot of the scoreboard as a call is overturned in an ABS challenge review in the first inning during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

For Now, ABS Makes Good Theater

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


Chris Thompson

Carlos Santana plays guitar on stage, with the Giants logo drawn onto his t-shirt.

This Is So Stupid

Béisbol!

A screenshot of the Netflix broadcast of the Opening Night match between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.

Netflix Baseball Looks Like Shit

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: A general view of the San Francisco Giants playing agains the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park on June 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Netflix Is Loading Up The Clown Car For Opening Night

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees arrives to the spring training game against the Chicago Cubs on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. He's got big goofy shades on.

Baseball Is Almost Back, And Almost Gone

Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred

It’s Gambling

Samer Kalaf

Team USA looks on after losing to Venezuela in the WBC final

Good Riddance To Red Asses

Members of Team Venezuela celebrate on the podium after the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Viva Venezuela, A Champion At Last

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the pre-game ceremony prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Team USA Lost For The Troops

Manager Mark DeRosa #9 takes the game ball from Paul Skenes #30 of Team USA during the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game

Mentally Ill Former Navy SEAL Inspires Team USA To WBC Final

Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of Team Italy is showered with ice water by Jakob Marsee.

Nobody’s Having More Fun Than The Italians

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 7: Manager Mark Deosa of the United States stands for the national anthem before a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Great Britain and the United States at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

Mark DeRosa Might’ve Boned This Big-Time

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Mexico in action during the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and the United States.

Even At The World Baseball Classic, The Mariners Cannot Escape Themselves

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Luis Vázquez #8 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates after his team's 4-3 victory against Team Panama at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 07, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The World Baseball Classic Is Already Producing Some Classic World Baseball

Shohei Ohtani #16 of team Japan warms up during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game.

World Baseball Classic, Or Assic?

Ryan Lambert looks happy coming off the mound in a minor league game.

Mets Prospect Might Be 80 Percent Egg At This Point

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in attendance for an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2024 in Anaheim.

MLB