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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

Pablo Sandoval smiling, with the shadow of his hat casting an Oakley Blade-shaped shadow across his eyes, before a San Francisco Giants game in 2019.

COLORADO ROCKIES VS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, MLB

Here’s To The Pitching Panda Of Staten Island

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.

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

Alex Squadron is a writer from New York. His byline has appeared in SLAM, the New York Post, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated and SB Nation. His first book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-League-Basketball-Relentless-Pursuit/dp/1496235851" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Life-League-Basketball-Relentless-Pursuit/dp/1496235851&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700717978074000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3O-s88UE2MyxmV19syo99i">Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA</a>, was released in October 2023.

Alex Squadron

Joe Young of the Birmingham Squadron follows through on a jumper in a 2021-22 G-League game against the Texas Legends.

Birmingham Squadron v Texas Legends

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

You Don’t Get From The G League To The NBA By Being “The Man”

Minor League Things