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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

Lauren Theisen

Francisco Lindor Has Been Waiting Years For This

San Diego Padres mascot Swinging Friar poses with a "Beat LA" sign

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Spite

Ray Ratto

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres screams triumphantly in the outfield at the end of his team's Game 3 win in the National League Divisional Series on October 8, 2024.

The Padres Keep Getting Louder

Tarik Skubal Didn’t Need Much Help

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

David Roth

Businessmen stop and watch a televised Phillies Mets game on a Zenith TV on May 08, 1963.

A Phillies/Mets NLDS Preview, In The Classic Shopping Mall Format

Dave McKenna

An illustration of a little league baseball player trying to swing an oversized gavel as parents look on

Life's Rich Pageant

A Very Ugly Year In The Life Of A D.C. Little League

Kathryn Xu

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a two run home run against AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves.

Well Well Well, Not So Bad To Have A First-Round Bye Now, Is It

The Detroit Tigers celebrate after beating the Astros

They Let The Cats Get Hot!!

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jorge Soler of the Braves smokes a cigar after his team clinched a playoff berth.

The Shambling, Half-Dead Braves Have Gone Far Enough

Boston Red Sox 2B Vaughn Grissom slides to home plate past the tag by Tampa Bay Rays C Logan Driscoll in the third inning.

The 81-81 Red Sox Weren’t The Most Mediocre Team Of The Season

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Pete Rose, All-American

Members of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Ends His Season Dismantling The Entire Concept Of The Decimal System

Matt Thaiss of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out swinging during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26,2024. His helmet's all wonky on his head.

Woof, The Angels

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres watches after throwing the ball to first base as part of a triple play as Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers ducks.

The Padres Found The Coolest Way To Clinch

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

Michael Rosen is a transportation planner and author of the <a href="https://pitchplots.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pitchplots.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725119706246000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LfT9S-qtmoiPwAXtsicWT">&#8220;Pitch Plots&#8221;</a> Substack. He lives in Los Angeles.

Michael Rosen

An umpire mediates between two people networking

baseball