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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

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Ray Ratto

Santiago Espinal #4 and Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after winning the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Pittsburgh Pirates v. Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds Are Going Nowhere In Particular More Quickly Than Any Team Ever Has

ampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg greets Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. before the Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on Sunday, April 3, 2016

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Rob Manfred Is The Face Of An Elite Mutiny Against Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg

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Patrick Redford

Here are three players showing three different ways to rock the diaper.

players and crotches three title

Nike And Fanatics’ Innovative MLB Uniforms Leave Baseball Players With Unintentional Diapers

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Tom Ley

Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Cleveland Guardians v Tampa Bay Rays

Report: Prosecutors Now Investigating Two Official Complaints Against Wander Franco

Ginny Searle is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Ginny Searle

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the assembled press before a Brewers home game in May of 2023.

San Francisco Giants v Milwaukee Brewers

The Wrong Lessons Learned

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Fans hang signs at Oakland Coliseum calling for John Fisher to sell the Athletics.

John Fisher’s Lackeys Eat Shit In Contentious Stadium Financing Hearing, May Win Anyway

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall (23) exchanges a broken bat handle for a new bat with a bat boy during the Atlanta Braves vs. Baltimore Orioles MLB game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 15, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.

MLB: SEP 15 Braves at Orioles

We Will Finally Fix Baseball By Holding Bat Kids Accountable

Shohei Ohtani exultantly celebrating after getting the final out in Japan's victory over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

World Baseball Classic Championship: United States v Japan

The World Baseball Classic Showed The Sport Where To Find Its Joy

20230215E0621DS - Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks to the media

Spring Training Cactus League Media Day

The Owners Are Getting Ornery

National League Championship Series Game 3: San Diego Padres v. Philadelphia Phillies

Where The Ghost Runner Fails

Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marcnormandin.com/">marcnormandin.com</a>, which you can read for free but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">support through his Patreon</a>. His baseball writing has appeared at SB Nation, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, and TalkPoverty.

Marc Normandin

Amarillo Sod Poodles infielder Jordan Lawlar seen outlined against a bright blue sky in a game against the Frisco RoughRiders in September of 2022.

Arkansas Travelers v Amarillo Sod Poodles

Major League Baseball’s Hubris Helped Lead To Minor League Baseball’s Union

<a href="https://twitter.com/jaseidler" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jarrett Seidler</a> is the senior prospect writer and evaluation coordinator at Baseball Prospectus. He is a proud Jersey Shore local.

Jarrett Seidler

<a href="https://twitter.com/jeffpaternostro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeffrey Paternostro</a> is the Lead Prospect Writer at Baseball Prospectus and has spent over a decade waiting for the Mets to develop one fourth-round ACC infielder.

Jeffrey Paternostro

The minor league Tampa Tarpons, under manager Rachel Balkovec, stand for the national anthem in an April 2022 game.

Dunedin Blue Jays v Tampa Tarpons

To Form A More Perfect Union

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David Roth

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, seen here wearing reflective sunglasses at the 2022 All-Star Game.

2022 Gatorade All-Star Workout Day

Rob Manfred Doesn’t Even Have To Try

Rob Manfred