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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

Kathryn Xu

Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners looks on against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

The Mariners Should Be Better Than Good

Willi Castro #50 of the Minnesota Twins catches a home run sausage after hitting a two run home run during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals.

The Twins’ Summer Sausage Has Not Yet Expired

Lauren Theisen

The Mets Are Worse Than Bad. They’re Tedious

Shota Imanaga #18 of the Chicago Cubs looks on from the dugout prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs.

Now Let Us Praise Shota Imanaga

Toward A Better Or At Least Different Way Of Determining “Record Vs. Winning Teams”

Ronel Blanco #56 is walked off the field by Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros after being ejected in the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

The Gunk Inspectors Have Nabbed Ronel Blanco And Seized His Glove

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


Chris Thompson

The Sucky Cardinals Are Headed Into Unfamiliar But Well-Charted Waters

Maybe Paul Skenes Can Pitch In Relief Too?

James Wood rounds the bases after hitting a spring training home run.

Please Give Us James Wood Now, Before Joey Gallo’s Shoulder Un-Kerplodes

David Roth

Willson Contreras of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts/screams after getting hit with a J.D. Martinez swing in a game on May 7, 2024.

Willson Contreras Broke His Arm In The Small Margins

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins.

Oh No! Shohei Ohtani Now Gets To Hit With Runners On Base!

Please Give Us Paul Skenes Now, Before His Elbow Kerplodes

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 12, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Here’s How The White Sox Can Still Lose 100 Games, But In An Interesting Way

<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>
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Vince Guerrieri

Wally and a participant in Major League Memories.

The Therapeutic Value Of Remembering Some Guys

Hold Off On Judging The Floundering Astros, Or Judge Away!

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on April 24, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Here’s How The White Sox Can Still Win At Least 63 Games

Ranger Suárez #55 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on April 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ranger Suárez Will Not Lie To You

Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees reacts after a call made by home plate umpire umpire Angel Hernandez #5 during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium.

This May Be Hard To Believe, But It Gets Even Worse Than Ángel Hernández

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Angels looks on against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 25, 2023 in New York City. The Angels defeated the Mets 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Wildest Stuff Alleged In The Criminal Complaint Against Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, pictured with his translator, Ippei Mizuhara, prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

Not Even An Ippei Mizuhara Guilty Plea Will Take MLB Off The Hook

MLB’s Radio Streams Still Suck

<p>Annie Howard is a journalist and historian based in Chicago. She is currently at work on her debut manuscript, <em>The City Made Me Trans</em><i>.</i></p>


Annie Howard

an aerial view of an empty Guaranteed Rate Field

How To Fix Chicago’s White Sox–Shaped Black Hole

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

The More Random The Pitcher, The Better The No-Hitter

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies salutes the crowd after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

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