Went into to DC last night to catch some major league baseball action. Seeing “real” baseball is something I have definitely missed. Oh, I have watched some of the Korean league games on TV, but the level of play is not much better than class “A” minor league ball in the states.

Anyway, for years I had been waiting for DC to get its own team again. I would go up to Baltimore two or three times a year to see the Orioles, but it was a major pain in the ass. Plus, I am not really into the American League with that wussy DH rule and all. So DC finally gets its team and I move to Korea. Go figure.

Last nights game between my hometown Nationals and my former hometown Dodgers was a classic. A real pitchers duel through eight innings, with the Nats clinging to a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, the Nats loaded the bases, and with two outs and a 3-2 count, Wilkerson hit a grand slam. So I got to see some great pitching and some offense.

It was miserably hot and muggy, but being at the ballpark with a beer, a dog, and some peanuts was still a joy. I’m glad I got to see a game at RFK. I mean, it’s a pretty decrepit stadium built in the early 60s and it doesn’t have much charm (I really do like the modern throwback stadiums they are building now) but I thought of the history of some of the great Senators players who passed through here. Yeah, there were a couple. It’s good to have baseball back in the capital city where it belongs. We will have one of those fancy new stadiums in a couple of years. Last night we had 35,000 at the game and season attendance is nearing the 2 million mark, so all those naysayers who believed DC would not support a team can bite my shorts.

I grew up going to Dodger stadium during the glory years in the ’60s–the Koufax-Drysdale era when the Dodgers would scratch out a run and win 1-0. Dodger stadium is really beautiful and remains my favorite ball park overall. Although I must say Coors Field in Denver with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop is a close second. Fenway Park in Boston is also a great place to see a game.

Well, that’s my baseball report. I have other news from my vacation in the good ol’ USA to share, including my son’s wedding in South Carolina. As soon as I get around to uploading my photos I will do a post on that. Sunday I leave Virginia for a week in NYC then it is back “home” to Seoul.

More to say soon.

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