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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

The Rays Have Chewed Up The Worst Teams In Baseball And Spat Them In The Garbage

Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California-based minor league baseball writer.

Jen Ramos Eisen

An image of the baseball field at Stockton Ballpark in Stockton, California. There's a baseball field, and rows of plastic chairs for fans to sit in.

Minor League Baseball’s New CBA Still Won’t Solve All Its Transportation Woes

Albert Burneko

A close play on a steal attempt at second base, between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians.

This Is So Stupid

It’s Too Easy To Steal Bases!

Barry Petchesky

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Washington Nationals walks back to the dug out during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Parks on September 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

It’s Opening Day For Haters, Too

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Gordon McRae as Curly McLain in Oklahoma!

Baseball!

Rob Mains is a writer at Baseball Prospectus.

Rob Mains

Cincinnati Reds CEO Bob Castellini and disgraced Reds legend Pete Rose yuk it up at an event honoring Rose's hit record, in 2010.

What The 2023 Forbes Data Tell Us About The Business Of Baseball

This Will Not Be Finished Until Mike Trout Is Allowed To Pitch To Shohei Ohtani

David Roth

A Mark Rothko painting, featuring his signature planes of color, on display in Munich's Kunsthalle in 2008.

Arts And Culture

Bob Nightengale Is Capturing The World Baseball Classic As Only He Can

Trea Turner socks a huge freaking dinger.

Trea Turner Is Now Also A God Of Dingers

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson looking very sad after making an out against the Royals in July of 2022.

The Detroit Tigers Flipped The Switch And Nothing Happened

Shohei Ohtani looking swole as hell during Samurai Japan's training before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with The Distraction logo at upper left.

Podcasts

My Fabulous Vacation Home On Naboo, With Michael Schur

Arbitration Is Broken Because Owners Broke It

Jacob deGrom at his introductory press conference after signing a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

The Jacob deGrom Experience Is A Worrying Thing

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (52) exits the game in the fifth inning during a regular season game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on August 06, 2022, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

Mike Clevinger Told His Story, So Olivia Finestead Told Hers Too

Joe Martinez, MLB Vice President of On Field Strategy, explains the new bases to the media

America’s Sportswriters Confirm: Bases Big

Let’s Remember Some Darrens

Baltimore Orioles CEO John Angelos chuckling at a 2018 team event.

John Angelos Is Not On Your Timetable

Ray Ratto

The Hall Of Fame Charts No Course

Dave McKenna

Orioles CEO John Angelos Honors A Civil Rights Icon Through A Fit Of Bullying

Trevor Bauer, Baseball’s Worst Person, Will Soon Be Back On The Market

Aaron Judge leaving the field at Yankee Stadium in the ALCS.

In The Long Run, We Are All Dead

Cody Bellinger makes a catch at Wrigley Field

Cody Bellinger Has A Lot Riding On This

Colin Deppen is a reporter with Spotlight PA.

Colin Deppen

Barnstormers' Jake Hoover (20) slides into second base after hitting a two run double against the York Revolution during first inning action of the home opener at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster Friday April 29, 2022.

Why These Teams Got Left Out Of The Minor League Baseball Union

Twitter CEO Elon Musk carries a sink into Twitter headquarters as part of a typically epic jape.