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Defector

David Roth

Scott Kazmir seen here during his last big league season, which was 2016.

It’s Time For A Scott Kazmir Comeback

Ray Ratto

Former Mariners CEO Kevin Mather with owner John Stanton and Robinson Cano

Kevin Mather Had It Coming Long Before His Rotary Club Meltdown

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at Vice.

Eric Nusbaum

Kids photograph a pitcher for the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Acorns in 1952.

MLB’s Minor League Power Play Is An Offense Against Baseball History

Lauren Theisen

A baseball player is silhouetted as he follows through while practicing in the batting cages

Life Lessons

Lost And Found In The Batting Cage

Pedro Gomez, Without Pretense

Ginny Searle is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Ginny Searle

Mickey Callaway during his time as manager of the New York Mets

Time To Untune That String

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, looking for a camera.

Politics

The March Of The American Kooks

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/">Infinite Inning podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF">Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</a>.</div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>

Steven Goldman

The late Don Sutton holding three baseballs marked to reflect the 324 games he won during his Hall of Fame career.

The Secret Success Of Don Sutton

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> (words) is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at VICE.
<a href="https://twitter.com/adamvillacin">Adam Villacin</a> (pictures) is an illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California. He has written, illustrated, and self-published roughly one hundred zines. He has worked with clients such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Dr. Martens, and Fender in addition to editorial work for VICE and The Ringer. He’s also been drawing a musician every day for the last year and a half.

Eric Nusbaum and Adam Villacin

Lola Falana, who was a celebrity but never actually a part owner of the Mets.

History

Did Lola Falana Really Win A Cut Of The Mets Playing Baccarat In 1983 Atlantic City?

Tom Ley

Better Hate An Owner

The Ricketts Kids Don’t Know How To Care For Their Toys

Curt Schilling sitting in the dugout while with the Red Sox, thinking about how much everyone else sucks.

Curt Schilling’s Cooperstown Tragedy Is The Purest Farce

Defector Up All Night

Curt Schilling Has Activated Pissbaby Mode

Gary Sheffield #3 of the Detroit Tigers bats

Gary Sheffield Feels Like A Hall Of Famer, Even If He Isn’t One

Hank Aaron, seen here laughing at a Mets/Braves game.

Henry Aaron Did It All, All The Time

Barry Petchesky

Watch The DH Needle For Up-To-The-Moment DH Results

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, two good players the Padres already have.

The Padres Are Doing What Every Other Team Could

<a href="https://twitter.com/yayroger">Roger Cormier</a> is a writer at Baseball Prospectus. He has two cats but is a friend to dogs too.

Roger Cormier

Some pictures of Steve Christmas, a real baseball guy!

The Almost Unbelievable True Story Of Steve Christmas

<a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">Neil deMause</a> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a>, and runs <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">the website of the same name</a>.

Neil deMause

CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO - NOVEMBER 13: A remaining batting helmet sits on the field at the Roberto Clemente Municipal Stadium on November 13, 2018 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The ballpark was once used for minor league AA baseball. The stadium is set to be demolished due to the extended damage it sustained from Hurricane Maria. The effort continues in Puerto Rico to remain and rebuild more than one year after the Hurricane Maria hit and devastated the island on September 20, 2017. The official number of deaths from the disaster is 2,975. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Lumix)

Why MLB Declared War On The Minor Leagues

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: A view of cut-outs of African-American players from the Negro Leagues are displayed in left field during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this weekend. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillies won 4-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

MLB Attempts To Fix The Baseball History It Fractured

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Fans hold up a Chief Wahoo sign at a Cleveland baseball game.

The Cleveland Baseball Team Is Already Making A Big Mess Of Their Own Name Change

It's Dany Ramirez, the last player picked in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

Let Us Now Praise The Garbage Feast At The Heart Of The MLB Winter Meetings

Dave McKenna

Dick Allen, stylish to the last, throws out the first pitch at a Phillies game in 2009.