Interleague Play

For the past several days, the Major League Baseball schedule has included interleague play. For you non sports fans, let me explain. There are two leagues in baseball. The National League and the American League. There are some differences. The American League does not have the pitchers hit. They use what is called a Designated Hitter. He is a guy that all he does is hit. I have heard Derek Jeter joke that he would go back in the clubhouse and grab some Chicken Parm in between innings when he was a DH.

The National League of course has the pitchers hit. Due to this, the leagues have evolved into different styles of baseball. The American League has more raw power and the National League uses more of what is called "small ball." Small ball may include stealing bases more, bunting more, and using more hit and run situations.

When I first heard that the owners approved a plan for interleague play, about 10 years ago, I was somewhat excited. I was thinking about the times when I lived in Western Pennsylvania and wasn't able to see the Yankees play the Pittsburgh Pirates, and how it would be neat to experience that. I thought also of the regional rivalries...specifically the Yankees and Mets, the Cubs and White Sox, etc. However, what has failed to happen is that new rivalries have not developed. Who care is the Florida Marlins play the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, or Cleveland Indians vs Pittsburgh Pirates? Cleveland and Pittsburgh hate each other's football teams, but as far as baseball goes there is not much enthusiasm in regards to baseball.

If you have followed the last round of interleague play, the National League has been killed! The Boston Red Sox killed the New York Mets, and the Yankees are winning against the Mets tonight as I type this. It is 2-0 at the 7th Inning stretch. I heard on a radio show that a New York sports host was in Boston for the Red Sox/Mets series, and was asked by a fan to "bring the team from New York that CAN play next time!"

I would be interested in knowing what people think of this thing we call Interleague play.

Superman Returns

**Warning Possible Spoilers**

For me, one of the most anticipated movies of the last few years was released to the local cineplex this week. I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to a premiere showing on Tuesday evening at 10:00.

Superman Returns basically picks up where Superman II left off or rather 5 years after. Astronomers have discovered the remains of the planet Krypton, and Superman leaves to see if anything remains of his homeworld.

The movie quickly is into the action. We see his return to earth and his return to the Daily Planet in Metropolis. While Clark/Superman was gone, everyone moved on. Editor in Chief Perry White remarked that the reason Clark got his job back was because he was replacing someone who died. Lois won a Pullitzer Prizer for an article entitled, Why the World Does Not Need Superman. Everyone has moved on and our hero seems very conflicted and I dare say lost.

The action quickly picks up and it isn't too long before we see our hero in a new suit and cape. In one of the greatest action sequences I have seen in a long time, Superman saves a 777 airliner. I of course was aware of the outcome...this is a hero flick, but the action had me on the edge of my seat.

I thought that Brandon Routh did a good job portraying Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent. He seemed as though he was lonely, and very conflicted. He would go by Lois' home and use his x-ray vision and super hearing to eavesdrop. I think Chris Reeve would be very proud.

Kevin Spacey was amazing as the diabolical Lex Luthor! When I heard he was cast, I was very excited as Spacey is one of my favorite dare I say, "middle aged actors." He was humorous and frightening at the same time as his meglomanical scheme came to fruition. Great acting by Kevin!

There is an interesting plot twist that makes sense if you know the history of the franchise. As the twist developed, I was nervous on how director Bryan Singer would go with it. I was pleased how the movie ended. My only hope is that this twist isn't made corny in the sequels that are sure to follow. I thought seeing Lois in the end sitting at her computer writing a story, Why the World Needs Superman was a nice touch.

I enjoyed this! I really did. It was different from the movies of my childhood, but was done well. I think it is safe to say that Superman is back in a very big way!

Welcome back Superman!

Tagged

I was recently tagged by Aunt Evie, so I will respond here at work as I wait for someone to come from DHQ. We have a meeting with the Mayor and City Planner today to discuss a new building!!!!

4 Jobs I have Held
Salvation Army Officer
ARC Truck Driver
Camp Ladore--Camp Driver
Camp Ladore--Camp Counselor

4 Movies I could Watching Over and Over
Star Wars original trilogy
Superman I & II
Field of Dreams
Pirates of the Caribbean

4 Places I have lived
Sanford, Maine
Altoona, Pennsylvania
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Waterbury, Connecticut

4 TV Shows I Watch
Battlestar Galactica--the New One
American Idol
World's Deadliest Catch
The Sopranos (on DVD) I am too cheap to get HBO

4 Places I have been on Vacation
Walt Disney World
Caribbean Cruise (Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Mexico)
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Lately, we have rotated those three

4 Favorite Dinners
Chicken Parmigiana
Sirloin Steak with baked potato or fries
Mom's Lasagna
General Tso's Chicken, Pork Fried Rice

4 Websites I Visit Daily
DIS Discussion Boards--Walt Disney World and Cruise Planning
CruiseCritic.com
Southwest, Airtran, JetBlue--to check airfares...this worked for me recently!
Bloggers--Aunt Evie, Colonel...soon to be Commissioner Knaggs, and now Uncle Dave!

4 Bloggers I am Tagging
I don't know enough! Everyone has been tagged!

4 Most Cherished Possesions
laptop computer
DVD Collection
The Corvette that is in my dreams!
My ATV that I used to have....thank you Connecticut for having stupid laws governing ATV's!
I bent the rules a little bit there!

4 Best Stress Relievers
Being alone in a quiet place
Going to the Beach
Taking a cruise! You have no idea until you take one!
Did I say taking a cruise????

I am Back

It has been a crazy few weeks, but I think I am able to blog more regularly now. We had stuff going on every weekend since the beginning of May, and for the last 10 days, my laptop has been out of commission. The power cord developed a short, and I had to wait for Best Buy to ship me a new one. Don't you just love service plans????

I will be leaving in 2 hours to go to a premiere of Superman Returns. If I am awake enough after the movie, I will post a review. Otherwise, I will post one tomorrow. This is one of the movies I have been anticipating for a while. I want to see Superman Returns, and Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Dead Man's Chest. The latter I will wait to see on our Disney cruise in September.

Anyway, I am back. I promise to blog more regularly!