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Defector

Tom Ley

Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Good Enough To Raise The Forbidden Question

Sarah Borus

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs hits a single to complete the cycle

The Cubs Are Riding The World’s Bumpiest Roller Coaster

Ray Ratto

Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays collides into Victor Caratini #37 of the Minnesota Twins at home plate during the second inning at Target Field on May 1, 2026.

The American League Is Putting The Mid In Middling

Barry Petchesky

Ty France grabs a ball that is seemingly foul. But it's fair!

That’s A Fair Ball, Believe It Or Not

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


Chris Thompson

Jackson Chourio of the Brewers looks bummed.

The Zippy Brewers Appear To Have Misplaced Their Magic

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 01: Freddy Fermin #54 and Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres interact during Game Two of the National League Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

This Is As Close To Unhittable As A Pitch Gets

Cubs Rookie Matt Shaw Is Exactly Charlie Kirk’s Type

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Reese McGuire #20 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on August 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“Pitcher” Is A State Of Mind

A passer-by looks on as worker hangs papal bunting over the entrance to the Holy Name Cathedral after Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, had been named as first American leader of the Catholic Church. She's wearing a White Sox hat.

Which Accursed Chicago Baseball Fan Base Will Get To Claim Pope Leo XIV?

Cardinal Robert Prevost, newly elected as Pope Leo XIV is seen on the Saint Peter's Basilica balcony, at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican on April 8, 2025.

Life's Rich Pageant

Well, They Made A Cubs Fan The Pope [UPDATE]

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a walk-off hit in the bottom of the tenth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Cubs Love To Get Crooked 

Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the field during player introductions prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

Baseball’s Sort Of Back

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (52) celebrates after robbing a home run to end the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 10, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

It’s A Bad Day To Be A Fly Ball When Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Around

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<div><a href="http://lillianstone.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lillianstone.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718218980346000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2u5kEh7Ge04YvIIiNqdkoU">Lillian Stone</a> is a culture writer and the author of the humorous essay collection <i>Everybody&#8217;s Favorite.</i></div>
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Lillian Stone

Los Angeles Kings music director, Dieter Ruehle, plays a 1941 Wurlitzer organ during the ribbon cutting and reopening of the LA Kings Iceland at Paramount on October 26, 2022 in Paramount California.

The Stadium Organ Is Alive And As Goofy As Ever

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

Lauren Theisen

Maybe Paul Skenes Can Pitch In Relief Too?

Never Say Aloud The Name Of Shohei Ohtani Or Surely You Will Perish!

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after stealing second base in the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on September 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Acuña Jr. is the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in a single season.

It’s Starting To Feel Kind Of Cubs

FLUSHING, NY - AUGUST 08: Chicago Cubs First Baseman Jeimer Cajndelario (9) and Chicago Cubs Center Fielder Cody Bellinger (24) hi five to celebrate the victory after the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets on August 8, 2023, at Citi Field in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

The Cubs Have Been Good All Along


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs argues with home plate umpire Erich Baccus #12 after a call in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.