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

Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez leaps over a sliding Damon Berryhill in a 1997 MLB game.

Rays Week

There Isn’t Going To Be Another Rey Ordóñez

Ray Ratto

Julio Rodriguez of the Mariners exulting after a win, near the Rays Week badge.

When The Joy Of Suck Fades

Kathryn Xu

The Best Time To Watch The Rays Is After Midnight

Lauren Theisen

How Seattle Fell In Love With The Worst Hitter On A Doomed Expansion Team

Here Are The Rays That Made The MLB All-Star Game

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


Chris Thompson

Rays Swept By Lowly Reds

The Reinvention Of Miguel Cabrera


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 06: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on July 06, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber Is Mashing

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 06: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates a strikeout during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on July 06, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Shohei Ohtani Cannot Possibly Do More Than This

Who Will Replace Baseball’s Maniac Artisans When Starting Pitchers Are Gone?

Jesús Aguilar Finally Stole A Base

<div class="r43lxo-0 gqfcxx js_post-content">
<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
</div>
<div class="sc-18b1b2r-5 eTUqHn">
<div></div>
</div>


Vince Guerrieri

The Rise And Fall Of The Rogue League That Took On MLB And Changed It Forever

Dick Bremer Will Not Give Your Walk-Off Home Runs The Time Of Day

Jeff Luhnow introduces Mark Appel to the media

Mark Appel Waited Longer Than Anyone For This

Luis Paez-Pumar

Starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on June 29, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri.

Sandy Alcantara Will Pitch As Much As He Wants To

Archie Bradley Sets New Standard For Humiliating Brawl Participation

Anywhere But The Thumb

Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a seventh inning home run against Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros during their game at Yankee Stadium on June 26, 2022 in New York City.

SPORTS

CULTURE

OTHER

baseball

There Isn’t Going To Be Another Rey Ordóñez

When The Joy Of Suck Fades

The Best Time To Watch The Rays Is After Midnight

How Seattle Fell In Love With The Worst Hitter On A Doomed Expansion Team

Here Are The Rays That Made The MLB All-Star Game

Rays Swept By Lowly Reds

The Reinvention Of Miguel Cabrera

Kyle Schwarber Is Mashing

Shohei Ohtani Cannot Possibly Do More Than This

Who Will Replace Baseball’s Maniac Artisans When Starting Pitchers Are Gone?

Jesús Aguilar Finally Stole A Base

The Rise And Fall Of The Rogue League That Took On MLB And Changed It Forever

Dick Bremer Will Not Give Your Walk-Off Home Runs The Time Of Day

Mark Appel Waited Longer Than Anyone For This

Sandy Alcantara Will Pitch As Much As He Wants To

Archie Bradley Sets New Standard For Humiliating Brawl Participation

Anywhere But The Thumb

The Yankees Killed Baseball For About An Hour

Some Good Outcomes Are Only Possible When The Game Gets Stupid

Cast Off The Tyranny Of The Official Scorer

Juan Soto’s Season Has Been A Huge Bummer

Luis Garcia And Phil Maton Accomplished An Actually Unique Baseball Feat

We Should Make An Engine Powered By White Sox Base Stealers

Rally Bird Thwarted By Phillies Bullpen

It’s Getting Worse For Tony La Russa And The White Sox