CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

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.

There Is Something Like Baseball On

Ray Ratto

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.

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

Kathryn Xu

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.

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.

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

MLB umpire Pat Hoberg looks on during a game between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs on May 12, 2023.

MLB Loses Its Best Umpire To Sports Gambling

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><span id=":g4.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> </i>and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/"><i>Infinite Inning </i>podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF"><i>Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</i></a>.</span></div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>


Steven Goldman

Bill Rariden of the Cincinnati Reds tags Buck Weaver of the Chicago White Sox out at home plate in the second game of the 1919 World Series at Crosley Field.

Cruelty, Hype, And The American Way In Harry Stein’s Baseball Novel ‘Hoopla’

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki wearing #11 which was Miguel Rojas number is introduced as the newest Dodger during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Podcasts

Bop It In The Go Bag, With Justin Halpern

itcher Roki Sasaki puts on his jersey during a Los Angeles Dodgers press conference.

Maybe The Dodgers’ Competitors Could Show Some Self-Respect

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California-based minor league baseball writer.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico in 2023.

All Of MLB Is Chasing Roki Sasaki

San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler and GM A.J. Preller pose for a photo at the home ballpark.

Peter Seidler’s Padres Are A Family Business

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


Chris Thompson

A much younger Juan Soto celebrates a dinger in the Nationals dugout.

Juan Soto’s Megadeal Ends A Long Goodbye

<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Patrick Dubuque

American baseball pitcher Wilbur Wood, of the Chicago White Sox, demonstrates his 'knuckle ball' at the club's Comiskey Park stadium in Chicago, Illinois, 30th July 1973.

The Last Pitcher

Lauren Theisen

A Delta Air Lines banner ad for Pride Night is seen behind Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers as he pitches

End MLB Pride Nights

Shohei Ohtani Reverse Tungsten-Arms His Way Into A World Series Ring

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts #50 during the eighth inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Humble Sac Fly Wins Championships

Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees at home plate.

If This World Series Ends In A Sweep, I Will Launch The Yankees Into The Sun

CHIMCHIME, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - 2024/10/13: (EDITORS NOTE: Image taken with drone) In this aerial view, the domed roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is seen ripped to shreds from Hurricane Miltonís powerful winds in St. Petersburg. The storm passed through the area on October 10, 2024, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Siesta Key, Florida. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Where Should The Rays Play?

Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his home run sail out to right field in Game 3 of the NLCS in New York.

The Dodgers Are More Than Advertised

Mark Vientos rounds first base after hitting a grand slam

Mark Vientos Blew The Dodgers Away

A screenshot of Thursday's game on TNT, showing the action pushed over to the left side of the screen.

MLB’s Television Product Is Getting Shittier In Exciting New Ways

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

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


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

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

baseball