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

Lauren Theisen

A rainbow Red Sox logo on the video board at Fenway Park

No Straights At Pride Night

There’s No Bottom In Oakland

Albert Burneko

Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals, looking sad

Extremely Depressing Report: Stephen Strasburg’s Body Is A Wreck

Brett Sullivan of the Padres rubbing his eyes

Padres Blackouts Are Over, For A Price

Barry Petchesky

High School Sports

Yeah, That’s About The Worst Way To Lose A Championship

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


Chris Thompson

Trevor Bauer pulls a face after giving up a first-inning dinger against a Japanese minor-leaguer.

Things We Actually Like

Heartwarming: Trevor Bauer Is Getting Lit Up In Japan

<div dir="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/NotTheBobbyOrr">Robert Orr</a> is an author of Baseball Prospectus.</div>


Robert Orr

Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe celebrate Lowe's two-run homer in a May game.

How The Rays Raised Their Offensive Game

The Blue Jays Are Curious About Aaron Judge’s Eyes

Dave McKenna

A story in the Wright State Daily Guardian about Robert Pollard's no-hitter for Wright State University on March 11, 1978.

Music

Celebrating Robert Pollard’s No-Hitter And The Rock-Jock Nexus

Fernando Tatis Jr. rounds the bases for the Padres, during spring training.

El Niño Is Approaching

Ryan Mountcastle celebrates with teammates

Every Orioles Game Is An Adventure

Oneil Cruz, Pirates Suffer Devastating Injury

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

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


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

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!

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

Gordon McRae as Curly McLain in Oklahoma!

Baseball!

<p>Rob Mains is a writer at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


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.

baseball