defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

defector-present-wrapping-logo-gift-subscription-250fixed

winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

Evan Carter of the Texas Rangers celebrates in the clubhouse after beating the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Championship Series – Texas Rangers v Houston Astros – Game Seven

Podcasts

Giving Home Plate The Business, With Emma Baccellieri

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

Corbin Carroll celebrates by smoking a cigar in the clubhouse

Championship Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks – Game Seven

Corbin Carroll’s Small Ball Came Up Big

Evan Longoria and Ryne Nelson look disappointed about the ball that dropped

Championship Series – Arizona Diamondbacks v Philadelphia Phillies – Game Two

This Is How A Team Pleads For Mercy

Yordan Alvarez is upset after striking out

Championship Series – Texas Rangers v Houston Astros – Game One

Jordan Montgomery Won The First Three Rounds Against Yordan Álvarez

image

Kathryn Xu

Lance Lynn reacts after giving up a home run to Gabriel Moreno.

Division Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks – Game Three

The Dodgers Need A 75-Game Series

Rocco Baldelli visits the mound to remove Caleb Thielbar

Division Series – Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins – Game Four

The Astros Were Not About To Lose A Battle Of Bullpens

Manager Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins relieves Sonny Gray #54 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the Division Series at Target Field on October 10, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Division Series – Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins – Game Three

The Negating Effects Of First-Half-Inning Run Scoring On Competitive Integrity And Entertainment Fidelity

Bryce Harper walks back to the dugout as the Atlanta Braves celebrate their win

Division Series – Philadelphia Phillies v. Atlanta Braves – Game Two

The Phillies Went For The Throat And Missed

justin

Justin Ellis

Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins at home hits a home run as the catcher and umpire observe during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 07, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Division Series – Minnesota Twins v Houston Astros – Game One

Everything And Nothing Changed For The Twins In Just One Inning

Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates by splashing to beers around after Arizona completed their two-game Wild Card sweep of the Brewers in October of 2023.

Wild Card Series – Arizona Diamondbacks v Milwaukee Brewers – Game Two

Wild Cards And Animal Spirits In October

Wild Card Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Minnesota Twins – Game Two

Did The Twins Transfer Their Demonic Energy To The Blue Jays?

Royce Lewis celebrates after hitting a home run

Wild Card Series – Toronto Blue Jays v Minnesota Twins – Game One

The Twins Regained Some Control Over Their Existence

Miguel Cabrera fields a ground ball at first for the last time

Cleveland Guardians v Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera, First To The Last

Fans stand and cheer as Miguel Cabrera walks to the dugout

MLB: APR 23 Rockies at Tigers

Miguel Cabrera Was Always Worth It

Julio Rodríguez reacts after striking out against Héctor Neris.

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners

Héctor Neris Got Mad, And The Mariners Couldn’t Get Even

Justin Verlander tips hit cap after being taken out of the game

Justin Verlander Pulled The Astros Out Of The Quicksand

Nick Castellanos rounds third after hitting a home run

Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves

Nick Castellanos Is The Phillies’ Himbo Hero

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Zach Buchanan has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, for the <em>Arizona Republic</em>, <em>Cincinnati Enquirer,</em> and most recently The Athletic. He also has been published in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, FanGraphs and <em>Baseball America</em>. He lives in Phoenix, where he prepares for the inevitable water crisis by living off Dr Pepper instead.</div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


zb_background

Zach Buchanan

SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2023: Jackson Holliday #87 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during a minor league spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at the Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex on March 21, 2023 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackson Holliday

Atlanta Braves v Baltimore Orioles minor leaguers

MLB Prospects Are Getting Promoted Faster Than Ever. Why?

Matt Carpenter of the Padres looking distraught during a road game against the Phillies in July of 2023.

San Diego Padres v Philadelphia Phillies

What Are The Padres Trying To Tell Us, With Justin Halpern

Mordecai Brown Of The Chicago Cubs

An “Old-Fashioned Pitchers’ Duel” Didn’t Always Mean What You Think

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

General view of Busch Stadium during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics on August 14, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri.

A’s vs. Cardinals

Joy Is Where You Find It, Even If That Means In St. Louis

Will Benson and Elly De La Cruz celebrate after De La Cruz scores the winning run

Seattle Mariners v Cincinnati Reds

Better Reds Than Dead

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Fernando Tatis looks exhausted after grounding into a double play Thursday.

The Padres Are Ready For The Fork

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Cleveland Guardians v Tampa Bay Rays

Report: Prosecutors Now Investigating Two Official Complaints Against Wander Franco

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners

Late Summer Is For Spoilers

baseball