Editorial Policy
This page explains how articles on The Dugout News are planned, written, checked and updated. Our aim is simple: baseball explanations that are accurate, clear and useful long after they are published.
How we choose topics
We prioritize questions fans actually ask and that have lasting value: rules that confuse people, positions and strategy, how statistics are calculated, how Major League Baseball is organized, and the history behind famous teams, players and moments. We generally avoid breaking news, rumors and day-to-day results, because those go out of date quickly.
Fact-checking and sources
Rules are checked against the current Official Baseball Rules. Records, dates and statistics are checked against official league sources and established references such as MLB.com, Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs, Baseball Savant and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. When a figure can change over time, we state the period it covers, for example “through the 2025 season.” If we cannot verify a claim, we leave it out.
Every article ends with a list of the sources we used, linked so readers can check them.
Use of AI tools
We use AI tools to assist with research organization and first drafts. AI does not publish anything on its own: every article is fact-checked against the sources listed and edited by our team before it goes live. We do not publish invented quotes, invented statistics or fictional personal experiences.
Corrections
If we get something wrong, we fix it. When an error affects the substance of an article, we correct the text and may add a short note explaining what changed. Rule changes and new records are handled the same way: we update affected articles when we become aware of them. To report an error, email [email protected] with the article link and, if possible, a source.
Sponsored content and links
Our articles are not paid for by teams, leagues, players or brands. If we ever publish sponsored content, it will always be clearly labelled “Sponsored,” and any paid links will carry the rel=”sponsored” attribute. Sponsorship never influences our explanations or factual reporting.
What we do not publish
- Betting, gambling or odds content.
- Medical advice beyond general, widely accepted information.
- Unverified rumors or speculation presented as fact.
Authorship
Articles are published under the pen name Mason Hale, a shared byline for our small independent editorial team. More about the site is on our About page.