It’s common baseball knowledge that teams select pitchers based on their pitching ability, not their hitting, as pitchers are notoriously less talented at bat. In 2017, however, one player from Japan announced his intention to join the Angels — after being courted by many teams — in a capacity the game hasn’t seen since the advent of the American League’s designated hitter rule in 1973.
Shohei Ohtani was a baseball unicorn. He showed promise to succeed as both a hitter and a pitcher, serving as a designated hitter and a pitcher.
The Angels may have played only a fraction of their 162-game season, but Ohtani — in the face of culture shock and stratospheric expectations — isn’t just meeting expectations … he’s knocking them out of the park. His 100-mph fastball is as potent as any rookie’s in the game. By the end of his outing on Sunday, he had caused 25 batters to swing and miss, leading the league.
As for his performances at the plate, he’s tallied up three home runs, tied with teammate Mike Trout, who is widely regarded as the best hitter in Major League Baseball.
To any non-fans out there, it’s difficult to express just how rare this skillset is, especially at a level as high as we’ve seen in these early weeks of the season. While it may not offer too much context, Ohtani’s value is quantified in the ranks of fantasy baseball, where he’s logging gaudy stats in two roles.
While no team has seen a two-way juggernaut like Ohtani in many years, “two-way players” aren’t without precedent. A Red Sox pitcher and batter was able to produce some truly historic numbers at the plate while also serving as a competent pitcher. His departure from the team to the Yankees caused Sox fans for almost a century to rue the “Curse of Babe Ruth.”
The Angels are also getting a historic bargain with their historic player. The 23-year-old cut his teeth in Japan putting up compelling numbers, but his arrival in the majors relegated him to rookie status, which affords him a scant $545,000 per year atop a $2.3-million signing bonus. Not bad for a year’s work, but the Atlantic conservatively estimated the true value of his contract at over $200 million back in December — before he began proving his worth.
To reiterate, the Angels are only about 1/16 through their 2018 campaign, and baseball is a notoriously streaky sport, so we’re likely getting ahead of ourselves here, but when such a wonderful anomaly exists, how can you not get excited at headlines like this?
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
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.