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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

Ten Minute Quarters comedy show at 3:2 ratio

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Live Event

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David Roth

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

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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.

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

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

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?

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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.

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

Joey Gallo about to take the field during a Yankees/Nationals game at Nationals Park in August of 2024. He looks kind of faraway and a little sad, but not much more than most Nats guys do.

New York Yankees v Washington Nationals

Joey Gallo Is Going To Give It A Shot

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Wow, Perfect! A Hat You Can’t Read!

ampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg greets Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. before the Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on Sunday, April 3, 2016

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Rob Manfred Is The Face Of An Elite Mutiny Against Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg

Screenshot 2025-03-03 at 5.14.33 PM

Mark Asch

Screenshot 2025-03-06 at 11.46.04 AM

Interviews

‘Eephus’ Director Carson Lund On Baseball As A Way Of Being

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Ah, Jeez: Goodbye Ball! Goodbye Again! Goodbye A Third Time!

he Colorado Rockies mascot performs before the MLB Spring Training baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies on February 22, 2025 at Salt River Fields.

MLB: FEB 22 Spring Training Diamondbacks at Rockies

There Is Something Like Baseball On

Austin Wells in action, looks on from behind the plate vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. Game 5. Big ol mustache on his upper lip.

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 2024 World Series

The New York Yankees No Longer Have To Look Like That, Will Still Be Acting Like That

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets in Game Two of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Division Series – New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies – Game 2

Stand Down: Phillies Toilet Crisis Abates As Bryce Harper Returns To Spring Training

Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a baseball game against Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 6, 2024 in Washington, DC.

St. Louis Cardinals v Washington Nationals

Nike Triumphantly Agrees To Fix The MLB Uniforms It Ruined, Eventually

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