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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Chris Thompson

Rowdy Tellez

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

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Ray Ratto

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Tampa Bay Rays v Seattle Mariners

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

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Kathryn Xu

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

julioRodriguezMarinersOops!

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

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Lauren Theisen

Washington Nationals v New York Mets

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Philadelphia Phillies v Toronto Blue Jays

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

deGromRangers

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

MLB: APR 03 Padres at Dodgers

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

<p>Michael Rosen is a transportation planner and author of the <a href="https://pitchplots.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pitchplots.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725119706246000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LfT9S-qtmoiPwAXtsicWT">&#8220;Pitch Plots&#8221;</a> Substack. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>


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Michael Rosen

An umpire mediates between two people networking

SABR

Looking For Friends Among Baseball’s Most Passionate Nerds

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Samer Kalaf

White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore argues with umpire and gets ejected from the game

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The White Sox Can Always Find A Way To Get Lower

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run in the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers v Los Angeles Angels

The Angels Walked Shohei Ohtani To Face Mookie Betts. What Happened Next Will Shock You.

Paul Skenes

A Troubleshooting Paul Skenes Is Somehow Even More Frightening

James Wood celebrates

James Wood Sounds Like A Happy Future

Shohei Ohtani holds Decoy in his arms while Decoy licks at his face.

decoyOhtaniFirstPitch2

Life's Rich Pageant

Just A Bunch Of High-Resolution Photos Of Shohei Ohtani And His Dog

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David Roth

Manhattan sky is seen after the rain storm in New York City.

Rainy day in New York City

Podcasts

Some Kind Of Summer Vibes

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.

julioRodriguezMarinersWin!

I Believe In The Seattle Mariners


<p>Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.</p>


Richard Staff

An illustration of several baseball mitts trying to catch the same ball

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The Minor League Shrink And The Growing Gap Between Triple-A And The Bigs

Making MLB history as the first player to play for both teams in the same game, Danny Jansen #28 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field for game one of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 26, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox – Game One

August Is For Weird Baseball

Shohei Ohtani watches the ball after hitting a home run

Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Dodgers

There’s Nothing More Beautiful Than A Shohei Ohtani Home Run

Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets dives for a ball

Oakland Athletics v New York Mets

The Mets Make It Hurt

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Kelsey McKinney

Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies catches a foul ball as he falls back into the stands in the ninth inning

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My Terrible Son Alec Bohm Is All Grown Up

Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals takes the field in the second inning during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, August 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kansas City Royals v. Minnesota Twins

An Only Moderately Disgusted Overview Of MLB’s Wild Card Races

Victor Robles blows a bubble gum bubble while swinging a bat.

Victor Robles blows a bubble

The Mariners Found A Keeper In Washington’s Refuse

Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches a fly ball during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies.

Boston Red Sox v Colorado Rockies

Nobody’s Waiting Around For Jarren Duran

Josh-Bell-Corbin-Carroll

The Sagging Dodgers Suddenly Have A Lot Of Company

Manager Pedro Grifol of the Chicago White Sox walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians on July 4, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chicago White Sox v Cleveland Guardians

Pedro Grifol Paid The Price For Winning That One Game

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