O’s cable packages come and go but baseball endures

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s decision to offer Orioles and Nationals fans the chance to directly livestream games without subscribing to a cable service or satellite company gives further proof of cable’s eventual demise. It also speaks to baseball’s resilience (“MASN to offer livestream of Orioles, Nationals games to fans without cable,” April 21).

Within 10 years, cable as we know it will be history, replaced by streaming. Verizon will revert to being a complete communications provider and Comcast will be one, too. TV service will also be all streaming. Overpriced forced packages will, unfortunately, still be the standard.

Many baseball fans will welcome this while others will prefer listening to games on the radio where the broadcast is not disrupted by pitch clock, super-imposed strike zone and repetitive dugout visuals.

Regardless, baseball’s appeal will always be its moments of quiet wonder: the leaping outfielder robbing a homerun, the late-inning play at the plate, the double steal, the diving infielder preventing a winning run from scoring and the lifelong joy of a kid’s first hit in a Little League game.

“Play ball!”

— Mel Tansill, Catonsville

No consequences for chronic speeders?

I read reporter Todd Karpovich’s front-page piece on these chronic speeders and traffic violators (“Baltimore’s top 10 ‘super speeders’ owe more than $80K in fines, advocacy group says,” April 23), and I have some questions and some comments. My first question (tongue in cheek): Is Baltimore City in the state of Maryland? If so, these violations of speed and red light camera enforcement tools did occur in the state of Maryland. Right? Mr. Karpovich reported that “Baltimore City lacks the authority to boot or to tow vehicles for unpaid citations.”

Can the Maryland MVA be called in to get the addresses of these scofflaws off of their license plates and then flag their Maryland driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations, thus forcing them to pay up along with all interest payments and late fees? If they don’t pay, they don’t drive, and if they are caught driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license or expired tags, they get locked up and their vehicles get impounded. These are jailable offenses in the state of Maryland. After these folks who contribute mostly chaos and danger on Baltimore City roads lose their jobs, houses, etc., they may come to believe that defiance of any law is both stupid and fruitless, especially in Baltimore City.

Mr. Karpovich reports that many Maryland state senators have opposed and blocked electronic camera enforcement on roadways in Baltimore City. These lawmakers have also resisted reciprocity, to allow Baltimore City to legally enforce the camera violations and hold the violators responsible. Don’t they believe in law and order? Do they prefer chaos and potential mayhem on the streets in Charm City? Who were these state senators, and why do they oppose the enforcement of these camera violations? Perhaps these “elected officials” must believe that being a scofflaw in Baltimore City is an entitlement or at least a perk. A good follow-up piece for Mr. Karpovich would be to get these state senators to state for the record what their specific opposition to electronic camera surveillance happens to be.

Baltimore City lacks the authority? Next, will Baltimore City lack the authority to lock up all felonious individuals for serious or egregious violations of the law? This blows my mind! At least I learned something new. Baltimore City is devoid of authority. Now, all the scofflaws can drive wild with no consequences in Baltimore City. It sounds like a place to avoid like the plague!

Maybe I should stop writing that I live in Baltimore.

— George Hammerbacher, Baltimore

Pope Francis set an example for world leaders

Pope Francis was a kind and moral man (“Maryland mourns Pope Francis’ death: ‘A remarkable man'”, April 21). Most popes have urged the world to give peace a chance, as did Francis, but he was also open to sexual diversity and a greater role in the Church for women. He was a fierce advocate for climate action. His compassion for the disenfranchised and for children may be his lasting legacy.

I hope world leaders who attend his funeral, including the president of the United States, will reflect, even for a moment, on his decency, compassion and empathy.

— Herbert Cromwell, Catonsville