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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

Marc Normandin writes about old video games at <a href="https://retroxp.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://retroxp.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHfh-tiUJRghT9MV1BNxbtAOlI5Aw">Retro XP</a>, and on baseball’s labor issues at <a href="https://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marcnormandin.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGLkSx4sN271GhHVvriAoLN_UFOKQ">marcnormandin.com</a>, which you can read for free but <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGC_1Zx4sq480759Z-PK-RWn8hF8w">support through his Patreon</a>. He is one of the founding members of <a href="http://pubtbnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://pubtbnl.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1618674670611000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGs0Hu7YMHRvAsFNZ2kh6CU-Bmwhw">Publication To Be Named Later,</a> and his writing has appeared at Baseball Prospectus, SB Nation, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, and TalkPoverty.

Marc Normandin

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting speaks during the 2024 Pirates Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 24, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is kind of shrugging and looks like he is wearing a disguise somehow.

Cincinnati Reds v Pittsburgh Pirates

Are The Pittsburgh Pirates Really In Dire Straits?

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Kyle Stowers #28 of the Miami Marlins receives a gatorade bath after hitting a walk off single to defeat Pittsburgh Pirates on their Opening Day game at loanDepot park on March 27, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Miami Marlins

The Marlins Walk It Off, Again And Again And Again

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Rowdy Tellez

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes

A Troubleshooting Paul Skenes Is Somehow Even More Frightening

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Ray Ratto

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 11: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 11, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates v Milwaukee Brewers

Save Paul Skenes’s Arm, For The All-Star Game

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Kathryn Xu

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches to Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on June 5, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Los Angeles Dodgers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Shohei Ohtani And Paul Skenes Had A Splendid Introduction

Absolute Skenes

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Lauren Theisen

MLB: MAY 11 Cubs at Pirates

Maybe Paul Skenes Can Pitch In Relief Too?

Please Give Us Paul Skenes Now, Before His Elbow Kerplodes

Andrew McCutchen singles for his 2000th career hit

New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates Have Youth, Nostalgia, And The NL Central On Their Side

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Jack Suwinski #65, Ji Hwan Bae #3 and Connor Joe #2 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on April 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Rays-Pirates World Series Incoming

Chicago White Sox v Pittsburgh Pirates

Oneil Cruz, Pirates Suffer Devastating Injury

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Barry Petchesky

noumps

Who Needs Umpires, Anyway?

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 07, 2022: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the field during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 7, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates v Baltimore Orioles

The Sunflower Seed Incident Has Been Addressed

Some Good Outcomes Are Only Possible When The Game Gets Stupid

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 20: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on against the Chicago Cubs during the game at PNC Park on June 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates

The Oneil Cruz Show Is Here

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Samer Kalaf

Daniel Vogelbach and Willson Contreras argue

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Daniel Vogelbach Tripled, Chugged, Then Beefed

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David Roth

Pittsburgh Pirates v St. Louis Cardinals

What’s Left To Root For When Winning Isn’t Part Of The Plan?

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Patrick Redford

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Wilmer Difo #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates commits an error in the 11th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 02, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs won 6-5 in 11 innings. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

pittsburgh pirates