Latest news with #MadLibs-esque
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
No Homers At Home Yet For Juan Soto? No Problem For The Reborn Mets
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets in action ... More against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on April 21, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Phillies 5-4. (Photo by) In an alternate universe — or the one in which the Mets resided before October 2024 — Juan Soto would be concluding a miserable first month with the team tonight. Through 14 home games, Soto has as many homers at Citi Field as anyone reading these words (unless Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Jesse Winker, Brett Baty or Starling Marte are reading this, in which case, we thank them for their good taste). And yet the reception for Soto for each of his home at-bats remains warm and largely free of boos. You do not need to have a doctorate in Metsdom to remember a time when a slow start at home by a highly-touted and well-compensated new arrival would have been accompanied by a torrent of boos at Shea Stadium or Citi Field. Bobby Bonilla signed the richest contract in baseball history (a five-year deal worth $29 million, none of it deferred — YET) on Dec. 1, 1991. He didn't homer until his 22nd game at Shea Stadium on June 1, 1992 — two days after the oft-booed Bonilla was captured wearing earplugs during a home game against the Braves. His round-tripper off the Giants' John Burkett raised Bonilla's average at Shea to .136 (11-for-81). It did not get much better from there. Mike Piazza, acquired in a blockbuster trade in May 1998, homered in his third game at Shea Stadium June 8, 1998, when Rick Reed carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Devil Rays before giving up a two-out double to Wade Boggs. (How's that for a Mad Libs-esque sentence?) Piazza needed just six more games to hit a second homer at Shea, by which point he was hitting .375 at his third home of the season and being reminded how he made outs the other 62.5 percent of the time. To what still seems to be everyone's surprise, Piazza re-signed with the club as a free agent following the season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame with a Mets hat on his plaque. Curtis Granderson signed a four-year deal worth $60 million on Dec. 9, 2013, five days before the Wilpons basically closed out their free agent spending by inking Bartolo Colon to a two-year deal for $20 million. (If you're a completist, you can insist upon counting the one-year deals Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde agreed to in February, even if both were released by the end of May) Granderson needed just four games to hit his first homer at Citi Field — but didn't go deep for a second time until his 22nd home game, by which point he was hitting .149 in 81 at-bats and getting booed regularly. But Granderson, as solid a pro as has ever played in New York, helped the Mets to the 2015 World Series and hit .239 with 95 homers while playing in 573 of a possible 606 games before getting traded to the Dodgers in August 2017. Lindor, of course, was the first big splash for Steve Cohen, who signed Lindor to a 13-year extension worth $341 million on Mar. 31, 2021, just under three months after he was acquired from Cleveland and five days before he played in his first game for the Mets. He was booed while needing 11 home games to hit his first homer at Citi Field on May 7 — the same night he and Jeff McNeil did not argue over whether or not they'd just seen a rat or a raccoon in the tunnel leading to the Mets' clubhouse (a story that would have had more, err, legs if the Mets were still playing at rodent-friendly Shea). That was not the only self-inflicted error of the season by Lindor, but as you know by now, he's recovered from a rough debut in New York to become not only a Hall of Fame candidate but an unquestioned team leader who helped change the vibes at Citi Field. That 'My Girl' is still ringing in people's ears when Soto steps to the plate certainly makes booing a little incongruous. It's also harder to boo Soto when he's being preceded and followed in the lineup by MVP candidates Lindor and Alonso, who are hitting a combined .323 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs. Even if he's being paid as The Guy, Soto doesn't have to be The Guy — a drastic departure from the expectations placed upon Bonilla, Piazza, Lindor and Granderson and a reminder the Cohen era Mets are no longer a top-heavy operation. Even if he's not yet playing up to his standards, Soto is doing generally fine. He's generated 0.9 in WAR, per Baseball-Reference, while posting a .772 OPS. Soto has collected more walks (22) than strikeouts (20) and is performing in the field as if he wants to win a Gold Glove. Both the eye test and the advanced metrics suggest Soto will start hitting homers much sooner than later. Most of all, it's tough to boo Soto or anyone else when the Mets are 13-1 at home — the best 14-game home start in franchise history. The fast start is the latest reminder the tenor of and around the Mets may have completely changed last season…and ensured Soto's first month would be nothing like one endured by any of his predecessors.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- USA Today
Is it important for couples to travel together? Yes, and here's why
Grow your connection through adventure, communication, and fun Taking time out to travel as a couple is key to a happy relationship — Photo courtesy of courtneyk / E+ Advertisement Ask any relationship expert what couples who stay together do together, and you'll undoubtedly find a Mad Libs-esque variety of responses. After all, the secret to a long, healthy relationship can be as diverse as the couples themselves. However, traveling as a couple can illuminate opportunities for improvement in a relationship and strengthen existing bonds. Recent research suggests that couples who travel together can experience greater romantic and physical intimacy and higher satisfaction with their relationship. For both new and seasoned couples, it's easy to imagine how the stress of travel can compound the everyday stresses of a relationship. As a travel journalist, I've had more than my fair share of experiences of both good and lousy couple's trips. To learn how to plan a successful couple's travel itinerary, we spoke to relationship experts about why traveling can be good for couples and the best places to travel together. Break out of the mundane Couples traveling together can grow their relationship with new experiences — Photo courtesy of RgStudio / E+ It's important to be intentional about doing something different when traveling. 'Couples must step outside the familiar routines of daily life and immerse yourselves in new experiences,' says marriage and family therapist Eden Garcia-Balis. 'This shared adventure fosters teamwork as you navigate unfamiliar environments, plan logistics, and overcome challenges together.' But only if you give your trip the chance to let you do so, she adds. Changing locations to do the same things isn't enough to help your relationship grow. 'Stepping away from your usual schedules and daily distractions allows you to focus on each other,' explains licensed marriage and family therapist Michelle King Rayfield. "Without work emails, household chores, or other responsibilities pulling your attention away, you can have meaningful conversations, laugh at silly moments, and be together in a way that's often hard to do at home.' You can visit Napa Valley, hike the White Mountains in New Hampshire, take an adventure tour or expedition cruise, or visit an aerial park for some high-flying, adrenaline-pumping fun. The point is to take some time to break habits. Plan an itinerary together Doing things as a couple while traveling builds connection — Photo courtesy of Delmaine Donson / E+ Even if one member of the relationship tends to be more of the planner than the other (guilty), it's essential to plan an itinerary in which both travelers have buy-in. My partner and I discovered this the hard way on a multi-day trek through the Riviera Maya. Whereas my idea of fun was hiking the ruins of Tulum, my partner had grand plans of luxuriating on the beach. While disaster didn't quite ensue, it wasn't a recipe for the smoothest trip. 'Having a solid itinerary mutually agreed upon before the trip can decrease the opportunity for conflicts over how to spend the vacation time,' says Dr. Sarah Hensley, founder of The Dating Decoder. 'It's important to make sure that each person has an opportunity to enjoy the trip." Had we planned a joint itinerary, we could have stayed at a hotel like Nômade Holbox, an adults-only beachfront property along the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The hotel offers plenty of wellness programming for couples to maintain healthy relationships, and its setting in one of Mexico's nature reserves (Yum Balam Nature Reserve) would have made it easy for me to hike and for my partner to beach bum for a few days. Don't be afraid to stray from that itinerary Compromise for couples traveling can be as easy as a hike to a beach on Holbox island — Photo courtesy of LUNAMARINA / iStock Via Getty Images Flexibility is key to a couple's vacation and a healthy relationship. 'Everyone knows that sometimes hiccups happen during travel. Flights get delayed, cars break down, etc., which can interrupt our plans,' says Hensley. 'These hiccups can allow couples to work through stressful events that are non-relationship oriented, which can strengthen their conflict resolution skills.' So, instead of starting a fight over where to have lunch or whose fault a missed plane or train might be, it's critical to work as a team to overcome the immediate challenge and have fun. In the case of our Riviera Maya trip, that meant a hike not to Mayan ruins but to a secluded beach that, while not initially in the day's plan, resulted in one of the highlights of our vacation. For folks who want many options, consider booking a hotel with plenty of on-site activities. Talk to each other (a lot) Prioritize couples-only time when traveling together — Photo courtesy of Calabash Cove Communication is mandatory for a successful couple's trip, especially as you learn to adapt to each other's preferences, habits, and problem-solving styles in real time. 'Travel offers plenty of moments of cooperation and mutual support that help build trust,' says Garcia-Balis. Couples who have quality shared experiences come away from trips with a more profound sense of connection and joy in their relationship. This comes about with practical, logistics-based conversations and also intimate dialogue. To help foster communication, seek out a trip that prioritizes couples-only time. St. Lucia is often considered a romantic destination because of its secluded resorts, beautiful beaches, and stunning natural flora. Check out adults-only resorts like Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, with just 26 private villas, or Sugar Beach, with ultra-private guest rooms. Both provide the perfect backdrop for couples looking to drown out the noise of the day-to-day. Get a new perspective Finding out something new about your partner is what traveling together is all about — Photo courtesy of Lulu Chang 'Travel gives you a fresh perspective on your partner,' says Rayfield. 'You can see how they handle stress, adapt to surprises, or dive into new experiences. And when you try something new together, whether tasting an unfamiliar dish or watching a sunrise in a new city, it adds a spark of excitement and connection that's hard to replicate in daily life.' Sometimes, it's enough to see your loved one doing something new. On a recent trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, I booked a horseback riding session for me and my partner, convinced that it would be his first equine adventure. To my surprise, he was far from a novice, having ridden several times as a child and even as a young adult. Discovering this new factoid about him — even years into our relationship — sparked a new sense of joy and wonder, which Garcia-Balis says is key to relationship longevity. 'Travel can help reignite feelings of novelty and spontaneity in the relationship and allow couples to rediscover each other in a fresh context,' she adds. Take some alone time Hotels that offer personalized experiences encourage solo time, too — Photo courtesy of The Doyle Collection Of course, as much as you should strive to spend quality time with your loved one, it's also important to recharge your batteries. Whether that means going for a solo stroll or finding time to read by the pool, spending every waking moment with one another is unnecessary. For instance, we love staying at The Kensington in London. Its 19th-century buildings are very romantic and close to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum, all ideal for solo exploration. Places like Paradero Todos Santos in Baja California encourage introspection and connection with offerings like meditation, hiking, and yoga. Here, you can reconnect with yourself before heading to a Michelin-starred dinner to reconnect with your partner. Don't set lofty expectations Sometimes a quick getaway is all it takes to reconnect — Photo courtesy of Salamander DC Planning a luxury vacation of a lifetime can be fun. But sometimes, experts say that the best ways to travel as a couple are the simplest ones. 'Traveling together doesn't have to mean expensive vacations or far-off destinations,' says Rayfield. 'Even a simple weekend road trip, a quiet getaway to a nearby town, or just a day exploring somewhere new can give you those same opportunities to connect. It's not about how far you go; it's about being intentional with your time and creating memories together.' Consider an overnight stay at a hotel in your hometown, just to mix it up. For us in D.C., that means heading to the Salamander DC, or if we're feeling up to a road trip, the Salamander Middleburg. Both properties are convenient and familiar, yet they feel a world away, offering relaxation and reconnection. 'The goal is about coming back with a stronger bond, new stories to tell, and a reminder of why you chose each other in the first place," Rayfield says.
