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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

Craig Kimbrel of the Tampa Bay Rays prepares to throw against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 20, 2026.

Craig Kimbrel Can’t Quit

Kathryn Xu

Umpires explain a rule review to manager John Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of their MLB game against the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox Stumble Into Rules Review Hell, Emerge With Inconsequential Run

Ray Ratto

Sportscaster Mike Krukow watches from the broadcast center between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on October 1, 2021 in San Francisco, California.

Mike Krukow, One Of Baseball’s Greatest Hangs, Is Ready To Go

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Mugged By Seagulls, With Rohan Nadkarni

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Oh No: Dodgers In Unrecoverable Tailspin After Sixth Straight Loss

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Paul Skenes Is Stuck Being A Guy While The Pirates Require A Dude

Lauren Theisen

Miles Mikolas #36 of the Washington Nationals lays down a sacrifice RBI bunt in the top of the 11th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park

Miles Mikolas Now Better At Hitting Than Pitching

George Lombard Jr. smiles in the Yankees dugout.

For One Night Only, A Rookie And His Sweet Folks Make It Possible To Enjoy The Yankees

Sarah Borus

Former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Maybelle Blair and WPBL mascot pose for a photo prior to the game between the Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells at Robin Roberts Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Springfield, Illinois

Women's Baseball

The Women’s Pro Baseball League Will Eventually Need To Escape The Past

Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants is hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.

Reality Has Set In For The San Francisco Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal greets teammate center fielder Andy Pages (44) during the eighth inning of an MLB game against the Boston Red Sox.

If Baseball Is Ruined, Show Me The Ruins

Luis Garcia Jr. smiles and relaxes his head on third base after a triple.

Trade Season Kicks Ass Until They Sell Your Beautiful Son

Carlos Narváez #75 of the Boston Red Sox lays down a sacrafice bunt against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning at Fenway Park

By Bunt Or By Blast, The Red Sox Keep Winning

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers takes off his cap after recording his 1,000th strikeout during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park

The Dodgers Got Tarik Skubal

Kody Clemens #2 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates his walk-off, grand slam as he rounds the bases against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning

Kody Clemens Achieves The Ultimate Ultimate Grand Slam

Marvin Miller, executive director of the baseball players association, chats with players here after announcing a settlement has been reached to end the 13-day old players strike and that the season would begin in April of 1972. The other people in the photo are lawyer Richard Moss and MLBPA player reps Joe Torre, Wes Parker, and Gary Peters.

Baseball’s Labor History Is Repeating Itself Once Again

Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field on July 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I Need Jacob Misiorowski To Please Be Careful!

Munetaka Murakami (5) of the Chicago White Sox reacts after hitting a two-run home run

Munetaka Murakami Hit Two Homers For His Parents And They Still Prefer Their Dogs

Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies cannot field the ball on an infield RBI single

Trea Turner Is A True Two-Way Player

Dennis Santana #60 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is restrained by teammates Rafael Flores Jr. #43 and Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates as Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees moves in during an altercation after the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium

Dennis Santana To José Caballero: Look Deep Into My Eyes Or I Will Kick Your Ass

Sohini Desai

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being called out for runner's interference

Where Am I Supposed To Look When I Look At Baseball?

Buster Posey Sucks, But Don’t Take My Word For It

This Is So Stupid

I Have Discovered The Final Frontier In Baseball Tinkering

Alexandra Tey is a writer, photographer, and birdwatcher living in Queens, New York.

Alexandra Tey

view from behind the catcher on a park ballfield as a pitch comes in and a hitter swings