Ray Ratto

San Francisco

Staff Writer at Defector

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Articles

The Colorado Rockies Can't Even Lose Right

2 days ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

There has been a spirited race toward Major League Baseball's Dumpster of Distinction all season, with a number of candidates trying to join the increasingly popular 100-loss club. But there are ways to fail, and then there are stylish ways to fail. Miami and Baltimore are failing, but it's pretty boilerplate stuff—the Marlins don't pitch, the Orioles don't hit. Nothing especially novel there, give or take Baltimore's 192 wins over the previous two seasons.
Which Accursed Chicago Baseball Fan Base Will Get To Claim Pope Leo XIV?

5 days ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

It would seem that The Fourteenth Leo has some clarification to make regarding his CV. Not about his papal bona fides, which we are neither fit nor inclined to judge. So far, he knows how to wave to people who like him, which is both something and maybe most of the actual job. The issue, here, is whether he grew up a Cubs fan, as originally reported, or whether he is, as his brother later told WGN News, a White Sox fan.
Well, They Made A Cubs Fan The Pope

6 days ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

If Pope Leo XIV is truly from Chicago, he celebrated the news of his election by firing down a Malört with an Old Style chaser and eagerly accepting an invitation from the Cubs to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." Otherwise, well, what's the point of the Chicago thing at all?
The Knicks And Maple Leafs Are Refusing To Stick To The Script

6 days ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

There are essentially two kinds of playoffs—the playoffs themselves, and the stranger, smaller sub-spectacle in which the New York Knicks and Toronto Maple Leafs get their fan bases excited. We have reached that second stage. This will not be a slagging of either of those respective fan bases; first, we've already done that, and second, those fans are not responsible for the latest tandem developments.
Sometimes It's The Buddy Hield Game

1 week ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

Game Sevens take on many forms, and far more often than not the words Game and Seven are heavier on promise than delivery. In a world of rapidly shrinking attention spans, those games are expected to validate the results of Game Six, because we only recall the last thing we saw and imagine that the coaches are out of ideas. Rarely, though, do Game Sevens deviate from the established norms of the preceding six games the way that Golden State and Houston did on Sunday night.
They'll Talk About That One In Winnipeg Forever

1 week ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

No hockey team has historically killed joy faster than the Winnipeg Jets. When they make the postseason, they appear quietly and leave moments later. In fact, Winnipeg itself is from the Cree word for, "lost in the first round." They have been so committed to the bit that it’s still not clear that they actually won Game 7 over the St. Louis Blues Sunday night, even though I have watched the game twice since the actual game ended. The Jets don't win that game because the Jets never win that game.
Wild Fans, This Is Just Your Life Now

1 week ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

"Long-suffering" in a sporting context is largely nonsense, for the very simple reason that the people who complain about it are doing no suffering whatsoever. They're choosing to watch an unaccomplished team, and that's all. We don't need to run down the list of people who are actually suffering, given that the list is growing hourly, but it surely isn't sports fans. In other words, please take time out of your busy and productive days to shut the hell up.
Are You Sure You Want To Bet On Journalism?

2 weeks ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

The Kentucky Derby is the undisputed crown jewel of a sport that has been diminishing in national notice for decades now, but it can stand in line on that. Kids just don't go to the track any more, which is a shame because it remains a great place for young people to learn to smoke cigarettes and leave the butts in someone else's beer. The only real lure for fans outside Churchill Downs is the occasional Derby party, which is also the only time anyone drinks a mint julep.
The Jets Have A Connor Hellebuyck Problem, And The Only Solution Is More Connor Hellebuyck

2 weeks ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

The Winnipeg Jets were the best hockey team in the world, largely because they had the best goalie in the world, until they weren’t and didn’t. They are now facing down the possibility of being the biggest disappointment in the sport, because their goalie has been the biggest disappointment. Again. Therein lies the problem Jets coach Scott Arniel arose to today: What to do about a three-year trend that plays itself out the same way every time. It's Wile E.
Eugenio Suárez Picked A Bad Day To Hit Four Homers

2 weeks ago | defector.com | Ray Ratto

If Eugenio Suárez had his preference, he might have chosen a different day to hit four home runs in a game. But given that he entered Saturday's game batting .167 for the season, he was in no position to be picky. To his credit, neither he nor the Arizona Diamondbacks are so ungracious. At least not out loud, anyway.