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

David Roth

Mookie Betts an instant before something bad happens to him.

Mookie Betts Tagged Outrageously In Dick And Balls

Dave McKenna

President Nixon holds "a frank exchange of views" with a young basefall fan at the Washington Senators' Opening Day game versus the New York Yankees at RFK Stadium

Senators Week

Bob Short Still Stinks

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

Dan McQuade

Here’s Yet Another Baffling, Unreviewable Call From An Umpire

<a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.

Craig Goldstein

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, seen here in Cooperstown, being weird.

Rob Manfred Has No Feel

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Vlad Jr. waves to fans after his team beat the hell out of the Washington Nationals.

Vlad Jr. Did Some Primo Smashing

Trevor Bauer lies on the mound, tragically un-owned.

Heartbreaking: Most Annoying Person In Baseball Makes Great Point

Milwaukee pitcher Corbin Burnes throws a pitch in a game against the Minnesota Twins.

It’s All Happening For Corbin Burnes

Lauren Theisen

Pandemic Baseball Quirks Are Really Starting To Mess With Me

Mets team president Sandy Alderson seen at a 2014 event, presumably discussing cancel culture in a normal way.

Sandy Alderson Is Sick Of These Stories About His Many Creepy Mets Coworkers

Maitreyi Anantharaman

CFDA Fashion Icon Award recipient US singer Jennifer Lopez and fiance former baseball pro Alex Rodriguez arrive for the 2019 CFDA fashion awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019.

A-Rod Handles Breakup With J.Lo In A Normal And Human Way

Patrick Redford

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 07: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves watches during warm ups between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 07, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Embarrassing: Anthony Edwards Isn’t Familiar With Alex Rodriguez, That Guy On ‘Shark Tank’

What 1993 Video Game Tony La Russa Taught Me About Baseball

Defector Up All Night

Willians Astudillo Will Absolutely Die For This Shit

Samer Kalaf

Marcus Stroman of the Mets stands on the mound while it rains.

Today’s Marlins-Mets Game Lasted A Whopping Seven Minutes

Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres after pitching a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 09, 2021 in Arlington, Texas.

Joe Musgrove Threw His No-Hitter With The Urgency Of A Man Who Really Had To Piss

Kelsey McKinney

Better Hate An Owner

Ken Kendrick Is Just Another Rich Guy

Almost No One Alive Has Seen The Phillies Start 5-0

The Legend Of Akil Baddoo Grows By The Day

Donald Trump yelling something while posing for a photo with some Little League kids, in 2020.

Politics

What Exactly Is Donald Trump Upset About Here?

Albert Burneko

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This Japanese Baseball Team’s Fish Mascot Exploding Into Its New Form

Pitcher James Karinchak #99 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after striking out Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Kansas City Royals to end the top of the ninth inning of the home opener at Progressive Field on April 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Reliever James Karinchak Has Some Neat Thoughts About Vaccines And Nazis

A stadium worker removes a large inflatable trash can prop from the field.

Fans Remind Astros Of Their Sins With Not One, But Two Trash Cans Thrown Onto Field

A jersey of Eloy Jimenez, with his batting gloves, signed by his teammates and hung in the dugout during Thursday's season-opener.

This Is So Stupid

White Sox Send Eloy Jimenez To The Great Baseball Diamond In The Sky

A Chicago Cubs player seen here exulting in the presence of The Distraction logo.

Podcasts

Talking Epic Owners, Soft-Tissue Injuries, And Other Baseball Hazards, With Meg Rowley

Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers hits a first inning two run home run off of a pitch from Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians during Opening Day at Comerica Park on April 01, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

baseball