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

Kathryn Xu

14: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning.

Mason Miller Is Blowing Everyone Away

David Roth

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after flying out against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City.

Podcasts

A New Space In Which To Be Stupid, With Michael Schur

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Tony Vitello Might Be Too Candid For His Own Good

A 0.2" inch ABS challenge where a ball was turned into a strike, made by Eugenio Suarez against umpire CB Bucknor.

What Is A Strike

Willson Contreras reacts angrily to being hit by a pitch.

Willson Contreras Is Sick And Tired Of Being Plunked By The Brewers

Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels walks off the field with a trainer after being hit by a pitch.

Mike Trout Starts Hitting, Is Rewarded With Fastballs Directed At His Chin

of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball hit by Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 4, 2026.

Jo Adell Stole Three Homers And A Win From The Mariners

Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up prior to a spring training game.

Is Konnor Griffin Actually 19 Years Old? Let’s Discuss

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

Lauren Theisen

Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo

Justin Verlander’s Had Better Days

Ray Ratto

Athletics OF Lawrence Butler reacts after striking out during the MLB game between the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves on March 30th, 2026.

The Sacramento Athletics Are A Wind Farm

Carlos Santana plays guitar on stage, with the Giants logo drawn onto his t-shirt.

This Is So Stupid

Béisbol!

A screenshot of the Netflix broadcast of the Opening Night match between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.

Netflix Baseball Looks Like Shit

Barry Petchesky

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: A general view of the San Francisco Giants playing agains the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park on June 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Netflix Is Loading Up The Clown Car For Opening Night

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees arrives to the spring training game against the Chicago Cubs on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. He's got big goofy shades on.

Baseball Is Almost Back, And Almost Gone

Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred

It’s Gambling

Luis Paez-Pumar

Members of Team Venezuela celebrate on the podium after the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Viva Venezuela, A Champion At Last

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the pre-game ceremony prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Team USA Lost For The Troops

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Luis Vázquez #8 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates after his team's 4-3 victory against Team Panama at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 07, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The World Baseball Classic Is Already Producing Some Classic World Baseball

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in attendance for an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2024 in Anaheim.

Arte Moreno Is Done Pretending To Care

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Phillippe Aumont of Team Canada pitches during Game 3 of Pool C between Team Great Britain and Team Canada at Chase Field on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

A Season For Hope

Executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark talks to the media prior to Game 1 of the 2023 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.