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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

Ray Ratto

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 30: The Opening Day stencil is seen behind home plate during a media availability at Fenway Park on March 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

This Opening Day, Embrace The Suffering

David Roth

Rockies shortstop Trevor Story discards his bat after striking out.

The Rockies Are The Old, Weird Kind Of Bad

Andrea is a journalist and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Leading-Lady-Manley-Leagues/dp/1250623723" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Leading-Lady-Manley-Leagues/dp/1250623723&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1616169124789000&amp;usg=AFQjCNENNVrOlqBUsKJ9upT7e4F-Dj_Ycw">Baseball&#8217;s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues</a>.

Andrea Williams

Baseball’s Erasure Of Black Managers And Executives Shows Who MLB Believes Is Worthy To Lead

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

A close up of baseball player Yasiel Puig

The Battle For Yasiel Puig’s Narrative

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

For One Season, Rheal Cormier Was Lights Out

Kelsey McKinney

Video Games

Inside Blaseball

Amed Rosario of Cleveland can't get to a ground ball during a spring training game.

Cleveland Knew About Mickey Callaway, And What They Could Get Away With

You can kind of make out some mascots in this photo, by USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale

Here’s To Bob Nightengale, The Last Avant-Garde Baseball Photographer

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Mariners outfield Tim Lopes can't catch a homer, just as Kevin Mather couldn't quite grasp how to shut up.

Kevin Mather Isn’t An Anomaly

Carson Wentz, seen here warily assessing The Distraction logo.

Podcasts

Trading The Untradeable, With Kalyn Kahler

Scott Kazmir seen here during his last big league season, which was 2016.

It’s Time For A Scott Kazmir Comeback

Former Mariners CEO Kevin Mather with owner John Stanton and Robinson Cano

Kevin Mather Had It Coming Long Before His Rotary Club Meltdown

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at Vice.

Eric Nusbaum

Kids photograph a pitcher for the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Acorns in 1952.

MLB’s Minor League Power Play Is An Offense Against Baseball History

Lauren Theisen

A baseball player is silhouetted as he follows through while practicing in the batting cages

Life Lessons

Lost And Found In The Batting Cage

Pedro Gomez, Without Pretense

Ginny Searle is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Ginny Searle

Mickey Callaway during his time as manager of the New York Mets

Time To Untune That String

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, looking for a camera.

Politics

The March Of The American Kooks

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/">Infinite Inning podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF">Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</a>.</div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>

Steven Goldman

The late Don Sutton holding three baseballs marked to reflect the 324 games he won during his Hall of Fame career.

The Secret Success Of Don Sutton

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> (words) is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at VICE.
<a href="https://twitter.com/adamvillacin">Adam Villacin</a> (pictures) is an illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California. He has written, illustrated, and self-published roughly one hundred zines. He has worked with clients such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Dr. Martens, and Fender in addition to editorial work for VICE and The Ringer. He’s also been drawing a musician every day for the last year and a half.

Eric Nusbaum and Adam Villacin

Lola Falana, who was a celebrity but never actually a part owner of the Mets.

History

Did Lola Falana Really Win A Cut Of The Mets Playing Baccarat In 1983 Atlantic City?

Tom Ley

Better Hate An Owner

The Ricketts Kids Don’t Know How To Care For Their Toys

Curt Schilling sitting in the dugout while with the Red Sox, thinking about how much everyone else sucks.