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

Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run

White Sox Cleverly Lull Yankees Into False Sense Of Superiority In Potential Playoff Preview

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


Chris Thompson

T Brubaker of the San Francisco Giants pitches with bible crap scrawled on his cap.

MLB Pride Nights Co-Opted And Consumed By Owners And Culture-War Freaks

Sarah Borus

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs hits a single to complete the cycle

The Cubs Are Riding The World’s Bumpiest Roller Coaster

The Chicago White Sox celebrate a walk-off, two-run home run by Braden Montgomery

Call Them The Chicago Delight Sox

Ray Ratto

Jonah Heim of the Athletics celebrates a home run in the 10th inning during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The A’s And Brewers Got Stupid In Las Vegas

Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches

Jacob Misiorowski Is Throwing So Damn Hard

Why Did The Brewers’ VP Of Communications Retweet This Racist Crap?

Kathryn Xu

Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles after a strike out in the sixth inning during a game against the San Diego Padres.

Cristopher Sánchez Gave Up A Run

Starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after pitching out of the sixth inning

Shohei Ohtani Is Illogical

A fly ball bounces off the head of Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell

Jo Adell Traverses The Entirety Of The Fielding Experience

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred answers questions during an MLB owner's meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league's collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021.

MLB Owners Want A Salary Cap Because They Want To Cash Out

Defector Staff

A photo of a bunch of old-timey green barstools with the cover of the NYRB Classics edition of Robert Coover's Universal Baseball Association in the middle and the Defector Reads A Book logo at left.

Defector Reads A Book

There Is A Whole World In ‘The Universal Baseball Association, Inc. J. Henry Waugh, Prop.’

James Wood is drenched in water after a Nationals win.

James Wood Will Mightily Thwap The Baseball In Whichever Direction He Pleases

Dominic Smith of the Atlanta Braves scores after a throwing error by Owen Caissie.

Oh No! Outfielders Have Forgotten How To Play Defense!

Junior Caminero #13, Richie Palacios #1 and Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 16-6 at Tropicana Field on May 18, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida.

The Tampa Bay Rays Are Still Flourishing, And Still Invisible

David Roth

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets attempts to force out Zach McKinstry #39 of the Detroit Tigers after a fielding error during the sixth inning at Citi Field on May 13, 2026.

Mark Vientos Just Kind Of Falling Down Tells The Story Of The Mets’ Season

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners reacts at bat.

“Big Dumper” Now Apt For More Depressing Reason

Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays collides into Victor Caratini #37 of the Minnesota Twins at home plate during the second inning at Target Field on May 1, 2026.

The American League Is Putting The Mid In Middling

Jose Altuve takes a swing at a pitch over two feet off the plate.

José Altuve Takes Mighty Rip At Pitch That Would Have Knocked A Lefty Batter’s Shoes Off

Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts into third base during the eighth inning of the MLB Mexico City Series game between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

It’s Ildemaro Vargas Time In Major League Baseball

Manager Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants relieves Landen Roupp #65 in the fifth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 2, 2026.

The San Francisco Giants Have Never Cast A Smaller Shadow

Kelsey McKinney

Justin Crawford, in the powder blue jersey, gets drenched in water after a walk-off win!

Two Walk-Off Wins? In This Economy?

Jose Soriano of the Los Angeles Angels warms up in the outfield prior to the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox on April 28, 2026.

The Angels Might Just Have A Dude In Jose Soriano

Manager Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets removes Kodai Senga #34 from the game during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

It’s Almost Time For MLB’s Underachievers To Rearrange Some Deck Chairs

Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout.