defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_post_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_post_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_1:1

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_post_card_square

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_16x9_full_width

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_3x2_full_width

lede_article_featured_1x1

lede_article_featured_1x1_full_width

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_featured_flexible_full_width

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's 2025 Tip Jar Sweepstakes: Join Chris and Kelsey in the Great Blogger Bake Shop

bloggerbakeshop-3-2-final

Tip jar sweepstakes

<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>
<div class="gs">
<div class="">
<div class="WhmR8e" data-hash="0"></div>
</div>
</div>


Marc Normandin

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred (L) speaks with owner Tom Ricketts of the Chicago Cubs during the 2027 Chicago All-Star Game Announcement before a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Manfred's got shades on.

Baltimore Orioles v Chicago Cubs

Rob Manfred’s Two Jobs

AJSfPYY9_400x400-1

Kelsey McKinney

Noelvi Marte #16 of the Cincinnati Reds leaps to make a catch in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates v Cincinnati Reds

It’s A Big Baseball Weekend For Big Baseball Things!

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


Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

John Schneider argues with umpire Gabe Morales.

Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays

John Schneider Seeks A Cure For The Blue Jays’ Case Of Loser Brain

matt-shaw

Cubs Rookie Matt Shaw Is Exactly Charlie Kirk’s Type

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

Miami Marlins v New York Mets

Jacob Young Kicked The Mets While They’re Down

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners makes a diving catch to end the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros

Victor Robles To The Rescue!

Sean Kuhn

An Immaculate Grid filled in with the most-remembered people from the Defector/Immaculate Grid collaboration week.

defector-summary

Let's Remember Some Guys

Who Gets Remembered? Crunching The Numbers From 36,000 Immaculate Grids

image

Kathryn Xu

phillies-Karen

Never Try To Catch A Baseball


<p>Robert Weintraub is the author of four books, including <em>The Divine Miss Marble</em>, now <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Miss-Marble-Tennis-Mystery/dp/1524745367/ref=asc_df_1524745367/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=459515946640&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=6202131795131082661&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9010752&amp;hvtargid=pla-926582175995&amp;psc=1">out in paperback</a>. He has also written for the <em>New York Times</em>, ESPN/Grantland, Slate, Columbia Journalism Review, the <em>Guardian</em>, Football Outsiders, and many other outlets. Follow on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/robwein" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@robwein</a>.</p>


Robert Weintraub

Bubblegum card (from the Bowman Gum Company) features baseball player Hank Thompson, of the New York Giants, 1955.

Gum Card Of Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson Lived A Wild, Tragic, Forgotten Life In Baseball

Seattle Mariners (L-R) Leo Rivas #76, Eugenio Suarez #28, Josh Naylor #12 and Harry Ford #5 at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

seattleMarinersEtsyWitch

The Seattle Mariners Are In Their Etsy Witch Era

Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, in his trademark yellow suit and top-hat.

Jesse Cole

Life's Rich Pageant

The Official Charity Of The Savannah Bananas Has A Hard Time Explaining How Its Money Is Spent

Fernando Tatis Jr. extends up over the right field wall to steal a home run.

Cincinnati Reds v San Diego Padres

The Robbin’ Padres Are On A Crime Spree!

Emmanuel Rivera #26 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after walking off the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland

Los Angeles Dodgers v Baltimore Orioles

[Affecting A Maryland Accent] “Whoa! Go O’s!”

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

TeixMessage

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber Had A Real Shot At Home Run History

Alec Bohm

Alec Bohm Initiates Confusing Delay Because He Saw A Weird Little Thing

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners receives high fives in the dugout after hitting his 49th home run of the season setting the record for most home runs during a single season by a catcher.

calRaleighCatcherHomerRecord

Cal Raleigh Breaks The Catcher Homer Record In A Big (Dumper) Way

Andruw Monasterio #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers doused with liquid after the game against the Cincinnati Reds.

brewCrewPartTwo

Milwaukee Brewers Weird (Nerd Version)

William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds first base after hitting a two run homer against the New York Mets at American Family Field on August 10, 2025 in Milwaukee.

New York Mets v Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers Are Baseball’s Weirdest Winners

Soda packaging are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023.

USA Grocery Products

Podcasts

A Very Fine Cheerwine, With Emma Baccellieri

Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run.

Chicago White Sox v Seattle Mariners

Josh Naylor Is So Slow That Nobody Can Catch Him

Mason Miller #22 and Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres celebrate a 3-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks

GettyImages-2228871313-min

Better Not Guess Wrong Against Mason Miller

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates while running the bases after hitting a two run home run

San Diego Padres v Arizona Diamondbacks

Mason Miller’s Balls Were Fast, But Lourdes Gurriel’s Dong Was Faster

Marcus Semien

Here Is One Real Bad Baseball Swing

Agustin Ramirez of the Miami Marlins and Edward Cabrera #27 of the Miami Marlins celebrate in the game against the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees v Miami Marlins

The Marlins Are Actually Doing Some Stuff

baseball