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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.

Defector

David Roth

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. He is making a very pouty face.

Maybe The WBC Cursed The Red Asses Of Team USA

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Laz Díaz gestures at his wrist and yells something during a baseball game.

Laz Díaz And Modern Baseball Are Mutually Through With One Another

Ray Ratto

Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin (0) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians on September 16, 2026.

There’s Nothing Like September In The American League

Kathryn Xu

Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout during the first inning.

Report: Family Of Oneil Cruz Hired Fixer To Cover Up Fatal 2020 Car Crash

Lauren Theisen

Mickey Moniak #22 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after striking out

Let’s See If The Colorado Rockies Have Learned How To Play Baseball Yet

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks walks into the dugout before the MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on August 31.

Ketel Marte’s Bridge-Burning Hat Raises, Leaves Unanswered Several Questions

Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Arte Moreno sold a controlling interest in the Angel franchise to Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

After Imprisoning The Angels In The Toilet For Decades, Arte Moreno Is Cashing Out

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs takes the field prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 30, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chicago Cubs Would Like Your Attention

Storm clouds blanket the sky over Great American Ball Park as Starlin Castro #13 of the Chicago Cubs fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds as on July 7, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 9-3.

Reds Week

I Went To A Reds Game And The Sky Was Red

Brian kaplan and jeff banister yelling from the dugout

August Baseball Game Briefly Spiced Up By Runaway Dugout Red-Assedness

Tom Ley

marge schott addresses the crowd before game 1 of the 1990 world series

Marge Schott Was A Five-Tool Bigot Who Would Have Thrived In Any Era

Randy Arozarena celebrates a game-winning dinger.

Randy Arozarena Made The Mariners Smile

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on in the seventh inning after being taken out of game down 11-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mariners Surely Reach Pinnacle Of Regular-Season Suffering

Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.

Jen Ramos Eisen

Frankie de la Cretaz is an award-winning independent journalist whose work sits at the intersection of sports and gender. They are the co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League, and their writing has been featured in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and many more publications.

Frankie de la Cretaz

An illustration of a woman baseball player sitting at a desk and waiting for a phone call. A baseball glove, ball, and bat sit on the desk. The phone glows but has no incoming call. The player has her head down and arms crossed in sadness.

Women's Baseball

The New Women’s Pro Baseball League Offers Hope—And Frustrations

Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers diving past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt on a play at home plate.

Eventually You May Have To Believe In The Dang Milwaukee Brewers

Dave McKenna

In His Debut Game, Joshua Baez Ties Stump Wiedman On Career Homers List

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners heads back to the dugout after striking out in the second inning against the New York Yankees.

How And In What Manner Cal Raleigh Put The Ass Back In Big Dumper

Craig Kimbrel of the Tampa Bay Rays prepares to throw against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 20, 2026.

Craig Kimbrel Can’t Quit

Umpires explain a rule review to manager John Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of their MLB game against the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox Stumble Into Rules Review Hell, Emerge With Inconsequential Run

Sportscaster Mike Krukow watches from the broadcast center between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on October 1, 2021 in San Francisco, California.

Mike Krukow, One Of Baseball’s Greatest Hangs, Is Ready To Go

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Mugged By Seagulls, With Rohan Nadkarni

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Oh No: Dodgers In Unrecoverable Tailspin After Sixth Straight Loss

Paul Skenes Is Stuck Being A Guy While The Pirates Require A Dude

Miles Mikolas #36 of the Washington Nationals lays down a sacrifice RBI bunt in the top of the 11th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park

Miles Mikolas Now Better At Hitting Than Pitching

George Lombard Jr. smiles in the Yankees dugout.

baseball