CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Lauren Theisen

Mark Vientos rounds first base after hitting a grand slam

Mark Vientos Blew The Dodgers Away

Francisco Lindor Has Been Waiting Years For This

Kathryn Xu

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: The New York Mets celebrate after winning Game 4 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 in New York, New York. The New York Mets won 4-1 and will advance to the NLCS. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

God Appears To Have Given The Mets A Big Sloppy Kiss On The Mouth

Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after the game-winning hit to defeat the New York Mets.

Nick Castellanos Answers The Mets’ Whimsy

David Roth

Jose Iglesias of New York Mets holds up a OMG sign after the game against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on June 28, 2024.

Okay, Sure, The Mets

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Businessmen stop and watch a televised Phillies Mets game on a Zenith TV on May 08, 1963.

A Phillies/Mets NLDS Preview, In The Classic Shopping Mall Format

Members of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

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

The Mets Make It Hurt

Ray Ratto

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.

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

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins on July 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The White Sox Can Be Eliminated On August 9, And Other All-Star Break Truths

Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

Citi Field scoreboard with NHL Trade Alert graphic on it

The Mets’ Pride Night, As Witnessed By Someone Who Cared A Lot About The NHL Draft

Dave Lumley of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL Hockey game circa 1981 at the Montreal Forum.

Podcasts

Jurassic Hockey And Sticky Stuff, With Ray Ratto

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets reacts after popping out with the bases loaded during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of a doubleheader at Citi Field on May 28, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Meet The Mess

The Mets Are Worse Than Bad. They’re Tedious

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 20: General manager Billy Eppler of the New York Mets talks during a press conference to introduce pitcher Justin Verlander at Citi Field on December 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Billy Eppler’s Resignation Was Strange And Sudden

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: The Grounds crew pull the tarp back on the field at Citi Field on September 28, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Fish All Wet

Matt Carpenter of the Padres looking distraught during a road game against the Phillies in July of 2023.

What Are The Padres Trying To Tell Us, With Justin Halpern

Orioles infielder Ramon Urias slides in under the tag of Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez in an Orioles win on August 4, 2023.

The Mets Have Unlocked The Basement

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler during a spring training workout on Feb. 18, 2023 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The Mets Threw Some More Money At Their Problems

Justin Verlander of the Mets leaves the mound during his win against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, July 30.

You Have To Know How Bad You Actually Are

Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets looks on during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 18, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Bereft Of Blockbuster Trades, Max Scherzer Will Have To Suffice

Tommy Pham waits for the mound visit to end

Tommy Pham As Intense As Ever, But In A More Productive Way

Reliever Jeff Brigham leaves the mound after hitting two straight batters to plate the winning run in a Mets loss against the Phillies.

Good Teams Make Their Players Better

Tom Ley

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 25: Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets and umpire Erich Bacchus #12 speak during the ninth inning of a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

New York Mets