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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

Kelsey McKinney

slideshow showing "learning to score a baseball game" in a bar

I Taught A Scorekeeping Class And Everybody Came

Sarah Borus

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

Trea Turner Is A True Two-Way Player

Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches

Is There Any Limit To Zack Wheeler’s Spite?

Tom Ley

Gambling

Bryce Harper Only Pawn In Game Of Exploitation

How Did Bryce Harper End Up Helping FanDuel Keep A Gambling Addict On The Hook?

Pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Pitcher Scorned

Kathryn Xu

Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles after a strike out in the sixth inning during a game against the San Diego Padres.

Cristopher Sánchez Gave Up A Run

Justin Crawford, in the powder blue jersey, gets drenched in water after a walk-off win!

Two Walk-Off Wins? In This Economy?

David Roth

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Podcasts

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Bryce Harper Is Still Grouchy About Dave Dombrowski’s Loose Ponderings

nick castellanos in a black tanktop on the field during warm ups

The Phillies Can Never Make Me Hate Nick Castellanos

nick castellanos is celebrated after hitting a walk off

What I’ll Remember About The Phillies

Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate as they run past relief pitcher Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Phillies Go Down Swinging And Missing, And Throwing And Missing

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos #8 slides into Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts #50 on third base.

Never Bunt

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

Dan McQuade

Edmundo Sosa stands at the top of the dugout steps, making a heart with his hands above his head, as Phillies fans cheer. He's in his white pinstripe Phillies jersey.

I Saw The Phillies Hit Eight Homers

Never Try To Catch A Baseball

Ray Ratto

2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kyle Schwarber Had A Real Shot At Home Run History

Samer Kalaf

Samer Kalaf in a Hell Gate hat at the Mets game

Life's Rich Pageant

TNT Sports Airs Guerrilla Marketing For Worker-Owned Website That Isn’t Defector

Alec Bohm Initiates Confusing Delay Because He Saw A Weird Little Thing

Lauren Theisen

Jhoan Duran #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies enters the game for the ninth inning

What’s The Big Deal About Jhoan Durán’s Entrance?

Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after a catcher interference walk-off.

Phillies Implement Forbidden Catcher’s Interference Strategem To Walk Off Red Sox

It Feels So Good To Be A Robber

Two new bombshells stand inside a heart that says "home run" underneath a sign that says 4th base.

I Love My Daily Sports Shows: Baseball And ‘Love Island’

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

On a homer to right center by the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, the Phillies and visiting team bullpens are visible on a TV broadcast. Both teams’ bullpens have doors in front of the benches for relievers to sit on, but most of them are open. There are also ads for Hatfield meats, Temple Health, the Pennsylvania Lottery ("Play to win!"), Independence Blue Cross, and Budweiser visible in the shot.

Philadelphia Phillies