As Major League Baseball opened this year’s season, the players on the field have been as diverse as they’ve ever been, with 42.5% nonwhite players in the league led by 31.9% of all players being Latino. However, MLB’s diversity numbers aren’t very encouraging when you look at who fills the positions of authority in the league. Only three managers are not white, 11% of team vice presidents are minorities, and just 10 of the league’s 92 umpires are people of color. Which is why umpire Angel Hernandez is suing MLB for racial discrimination.
Hernandez’s suit alleges that the discrimination goes even deeper than just those raw numbers. The last 23 people promoted to crew chief (umpires work in teams, with one managing the others) were all white, and only one person of color has umpired in the World Series since 2011, according to the 55-year-old Cuban-born umpire’s court filing.
“The selection of these less qualified, white individuals over Hernandez was motivated by racial, national origin and/or ethnic considerations,” the complaint says.
Being denied a promotion to crew chief or given a prized World Series assignment isn’t just a shot at Hernandez’s pride; it also costs him money. Umps are paid more money in both situations.
In the complaint, Hernandez specifically calls out former New York Yankees manager and MLB’s chief baseball officer Joe Torre. He says minority hiring and promotion for umpires has stalled out since Torre joined the league office in 2011. And Hernandez adds that the beef between the two is personal, dating back to 2001 when Torre still led the Yankees.
After Torre didn’t like some calls Hernandez made, Torre ripped him in the media calling him a “fool” and saying, “I think he just wanted to be noticed over there.” Ever since Torre joined the front office, Hernandez, who has received high marks since he joined the league in 1993, saw his annual performance reviews start to reflect similar language to the criticisms Torre had leveled at him a decade prior, despite not being able to point specific instances from individual games that would back up the assertions. But Hernandez says the bigger picture still matters.
"Though it may seem as if Major League Baseball’s problems with Hernandez begin and end with some personal animus Torre and some other individuals in the Office of the Commissioner may have towards Hernandez, an overview of how Major League Baseball has treated minorities such as Hernandez shows a much deeper and more troubling trend,” the suit states.
Neither Hernandez’s lawyer, nor MLB have issued statements since the suit was filed in Ohio this week. In a twist that could be coincidence, Hernandez was reportedly just assigned to be an umpire during the All-Star Game next week.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.