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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

David Roth

Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo do the Bash Brothers forearm thing during a July Mets win against the Cubs.

The Mets Look Like A Good Team

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


Chris Thompson

Baseball Is Better For Having Just A Little More Chaos

A cosplayer dressed as Dude Vader outside the San Diego Comic Con.

Podcasts

Hostile Vibes At Comic Con, With Justin Halpern

Lauren Theisen

Kansas City Royals runner tagged out by Pittsburgh Pirates fielder

Interleague Play Is Getting Too Big For Its Own Good

Tom Ley

This All-Star Game Belonged To The Bullpen Hellions


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/robertfoconnell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert O’Connell</a> is a writer from Kansas living in New York. His work has appeared in <em>Sports Illustrated</em>, <em>The Atlantic</em>, <em>The New York Times</em>, and elsewhere.</p>


Robert O’Connell

Dan Uggla in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game, striking out.

No One Will Ever Have A Worse All-Star Game Than Dan Uggla

Julio Rodriguez bats at the Home Run Derby

Julio Rodríguez Stole The Show With Style

Kathryn Xu

Everyone But The Mets Kind Of Sucks At Winning Challenges

You Don’t Beat Everyone’s Ass Without Finding A Guy Like Matt Carpenter

Juan Soto greets his Nationals teammates with a smile on Opening Day, 2022.

Juan Soto Is For Sale

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

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


<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

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<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>
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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.