{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiam3zeqhxnnfv7466bko5oqoaxf2crm5uyflqw2hnf4te6pqri7jy",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:g673g5qzb2lfjsjw4rzbkvsu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mifor622jrv2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreidruzqmylmtco7xrq7naqcwzzip3virxkqwwuppacd2gjt66tu3cu"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 28890
  },
  "path": "/it-is-time-to-canonize-a-new-baseball-saint",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-31T15:52:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://defector.com",
  "tags": [
    "MLB",
    "liam hicks",
    "miami marlins",
    "sacrifice",
    "saint cycle",
    "sainthood"
  ],
  "textContent": "A half-decade ago in the early days of this website, long before ABS or \"The Big Dumper,\" I became obsessed with a very rare and unexciting way to play baseball. Frustrated by the prevalence of the long ball over small ball in MLB, I imagined a different world: one where players chose to sacrifice themselves for their team. I wished for a way to honor those selfless players who worried not about their own stats, but instead about the good of the club.\n\nTo hit for the Saint Cycle (which I made up), a player must only sacrifice themselves in every plate appearance. They cannot be glorified with a hit, and in each trip to the plate, they must be saintly in a new way. Specifically, they must get four of these five outcomes: hit by pitch, walk, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, and productive out. A productive out, in case you forgot, is when the batter gets out, but the other players on the bases move into scoring position.\n\nWhen I conducted my initial research in 2021, only three men had ever managed to hit for the saint cycle in all of baseball history: Tim Flannery, Jose Morales, and Biff Pocoroba. At the end of the 2021 season, I checked to see if there were any new saints. There weren't, and I promptly forgot about my obsession entirely.",
  "title": "It Is Time To Canonize A New Baseball Saint"
}