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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

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


Chris Thompson

The Hobbled Braves Are Hanging In There

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.

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.

O’s, No!

A Dangerously Bad Bullpen Is Everyone’s Problem

David Roth

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

Octavio Dotel Made A Life In Baseball

Kathryn Xu

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

The Mariners Find Catharsis In A Walk-Off Walk

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

The Definitive Guide To Mariners Pitchers Named Luis Castillo

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

Victor Robles Demonstrates What Trying Can Get You

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
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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.

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.

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

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.

The Braves May Never Win A Game

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

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.

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

Spare A Thought For Baseball’s Poor Flailing Bozos

Defector Staff

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

Staff Chat

Take Me Out To The Staff Chat

Baseball!

Tom Ley

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kelsey McKinney

Luis Paez-Pumar

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

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.

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.

Joey Gallo Is Going To Give It A Shot

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