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

Richard Lovelady #57 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday

Not Even Dicky Lovelady Could Rescue The Mets

David Roth

Juan Soto of the New York Mets blows a bubble in the dugout during the game against the New York Mets during their game at Yankee Stadium on May 17, 2025.

Juan Soto’s Mets Era Is Off To A Slow, Silly Start

Kathryn Xu

José Azocar #28, Tyrone Taylor #15, and Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field.

It’s All Coming Up Mets

Griffin Canning of the New York Mets pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

The Mets Are Doing The Hard Stuff Now

Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets celebrates with his team after driving in the winning run.

Mets Invincible, Phillies On Bullet-Train To Hell

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A much younger Juan Soto celebrates a dinger in the Nationals dugout.

Juan Soto’s Megadeal Ends A Long Goodbye

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

A Guide To Yankees Fans’ Juan Soto Cope

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees grimaces/smirks after a strikeout in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the ALCS.

Podcasts

There’s No Rutgers Football In The Champagne Room

Pete Alonso flat on the ground with the brim of his helmet jammed into the earth after fouling a ball off his foot in Game Six of the NLCS in Los Angeles on October 20, 2024.

The Mets Ran Out Of Magic

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers returns to the dugout after winning Game 4 of the NLCS.

Dodgers Lifehack: Just Don’t Chase, Dummy

Mark Vientos rounds first base after hitting a grand slam

Mark Vientos Blew The Dodgers Away

Francisco Lindor Has Been Waiting Years For This

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

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.

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)

New York Mets