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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.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Bradley Blalock of the Rockies tries to throw a baseball while sliding on his butt.

Bradley Blalock

The Rockies Are Bad At Every Part Of Baseball

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David Roth

Griffin Canning of the New York Mets pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

New York Mets v Athletics

The Mets Are Doing The Hard Stuff Now

Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants scores the game-winning run.

Heliot Ramos slides home.

Horrible Rangers Loss Also Really Funny

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Kathryn Xu

Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets celebrates with his team after driving in the winning run.

Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets

Mets Invincible, Phillies On Bullet-Train To Hell

James Wood in warmups

James Wood Is A Special Case

Sean Murphy and Marcell Ozuna

The Hobbled Braves Are Hanging In There

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Ray Ratto

Manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 11, 2025 in San Diego.

Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres

Bud Black Has Either The Best Or The Worst Job In Baseball

Elly De La Cruz is showered in $100 bills after socking a dinger.

Elly De La Cruz money

O’s, No!

Jorge López

A Dangerously Bad Bullpen Is Everyone’s Problem

Octavio Dotel pitches for the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Minnesota Twins on August 15, 2012 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Detroit Tigers v Minnesota Twins

Octavio Dotel Made A Life In Baseball

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

randyArozarenaWalkOffWalk

The Mariners Find Catharsis In A Walk-Off Walk

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

luis-castillos-mariners

The Definitive Guide To Mariners Pitchers Named Luis Castillo

Rocco Baldelli, Nic Lentz

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

Victor Robles hurt

Victor Robles Demonstrates What Trying Can Get You

Marc Normandin writes about old video games at <a href="https://retroxp.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://retroxp.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHfh-tiUJRghT9MV1BNxbtAOlI5Aw">Retro XP</a>, and on baseball’s labor issues at <a href="https://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marcnormandin.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGLkSx4sN271GhHVvriAoLN_UFOKQ">marcnormandin.com</a>, which you can read for free but <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGC_1Zx4sq480759Z-PK-RWn8hF8w">support through his Patreon</a>. He is one of the founding members of <a href="http://pubtbnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://pubtbnl.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGs0Hu7YMHRvAsFNZ2kh6CU-Bmwhw">Publication To Be Named Later,</a> and his writing has appeared at Baseball Prospectus, SB Nation, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, and TalkPoverty.

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.

Cincinnati Reds v Pittsburgh Pirates

Are The Pittsburgh Pirates Really In Dire Straits?

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.

Athletics vs Chicago Cubs

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

Rafael Devers smiles

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.

Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers

The Braves May Never Win A Game

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

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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.

Dodgers Padres at Dodger Stadium.

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

Rafael Devers

Spare A Thought For Baseball’s Poor Flailing Bozos

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Defector Staff

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

Shibe Park in Philadelphia

Staff Chat

Take Me Out To The Staff Chat

Bill Withers Dodgers

Baseball!

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Tom Ley

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Kelsey McKinney

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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

Portrait Of The Syracuse Star Baseball Team

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

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the field during player introductions prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

ohtaniTokyoSeries

Baseball’s Sort Of Back

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