Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan, right, greets Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, at a candi- dates’ forum in Anne Arundel Co., near Riva, Md., in August.

BROWN IS SMART TO CAPITALIZE
ON O’MALLEY’S POLITICAL MACHINE;
OBAMA HEALTHCARE NOT AN ISSUE

Voters deserve option of a strong candidate
like former Sen. Webb to challenge Hillary

BIDEN BECOMES MORE IRRELEVANT
EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH
AND FIRMLY PUTS HIS FOOT IN IT
 
By David Maril
 
While wondering why the National Football League has managed to be classified as a nonprofit organization while the other professional sports aren’t, it’s interesting to note the following:

  How many Maryland voters would like to see the two major party candidates for governor focus, with specifics, on more of what they offer if elected instead of simply slugging away at each other?

Lt. Gov. Anthony G .Brown has done little to get out of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s shadow. And maybe, politically in Maryland, that’s a smart move. But it doesn’t help the voters.

Although some observers are surprised more hasn’t been made in the campaign, of Brown’s connection to all the problems in implementing Obamacare throughout the state, it is pretty much a non-issue.

Maryland was not alone in running up huge bills because of website flaws. This turned out to be more of a national issue than simply a case of Brown not getting the job done as the state official supposedly assigned to supervise the implementation.

On the other side, Republican Larry Hogan isn’t conveying he has enough of an appeal as a moderate, which is what it takes to win a statewide election in Maryland if you want enough voters from the majority party to cross over.

For example, he hasn’t won over many Democrats in the middle because of his negativity toward public transportation.

  Our state casino owners will probably tell you that the reason gambling revenue in Connecticut is down 35 percent since 2007 and New Jersey is off by 50 percent since 2006, is because of the competition from the new gambling places here in Maryland.

FORMER VA. U.S. SEN. JIM WEBB VS. HILLARY?

  Here’s hoping that former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb follows through on his plans to run in the 2016 Democratic presidential campaign.

The 68-year-old former assistant secretary of defense and Navy secretary would transform the Democrats’ campaign into a vibrant series of debates and opportunity for the voters to have more than just one candidate, Hillary Clinton, to consider.

Webb, a former Republican who switched parties and defeated conservative George Allen in the 2006 Senate campaign, quickly became frustrated with congressional gridlock and didn’t run for reelection in 2012.

The highly decorated Vietnam War veteran would be a different, intriguing type of presidential candidate. While possessing an extensive military background on the field of battle and at the administrative levels, he’s an extremely rational, intelligent and practical figure.

Domestically, he’s a moderate progressive, oriented to getting things done and cutting through the typical rhetoric that flourishes these days in Washington. Webb would be an interesting contrast to Hillary Clinton, a career politician.

Let’s face it, if Webb decides not to run, Clinton is going to have a pretty easy path to securing the nomination.

As for Martin O’Malley, no matter how many times he manages to appear on Sunday network-news talk programs, nobody knows him outside of Maryland.

BIDEN CONTINUES TO MAKE HIMSELF MORE IRRELEVANT

And Vice President Joe Biden continues to make himself more irrelevant every time he opens his mouth, commits an embarrassing gaffe, and is forced to apologize.

Even if Webb runs and doesn’t get the nomination, at least the competition will draw out issues that need to be discussed and will make Clinton, or whoever does prevail through the primaries, become a better candidate.

  Speculation continues to grow over the health of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who has not been seen at public functions for months.

One has to wonder whether the tyrant, who is a personal friend of former NBA “loose cannon” Dennis Rodman, will borrow a page from the late Mao Zedong to prove he is not on the verge of falling out of power because of medical issues.

In the summer of 1966, while the Orioles were gearing up for their first World Championship, who could forget the touched-up photos of Chairman Mao’s “historic” swim in the Yangtze River by the Wuhan Bridge?

Supposedly the Communist Chinese leader, in his early 70s at the time, swam a 15 km pace that, if true, would have shattered a world speed record. The photos of his head sticking out of the water, looking suspiciously fabricated, ran in newspapers all over the world.

  Speaking of the 1960s and a connection today, it was nice to hear that applications for the Peace Corps are up 70 percent in 2014 in comparison to last year.

OVER 17,000 APPLICANTS APPLIED THIS YEAR

This public service program for young people, which began under President John F. Kennedy in 1961, had over 17,000 applications submitted this year for offering humanitarian aid to countries all over the world.

  It’s still early but NBC appears to have missed the mark replacing David Gregory with Chuck Todd as host of “Meet The Press.” So far, the big innovation is a new set which adds a small interview table off to the side for one-on-one sessions between the host and a “newsmaker” guest.

For some reason, air time is wasted every time Todd walks back and forth from the bigger table, where the panelists sit, to his interview perch. It also seems quite awkward and stupid having the panel guests shown sitting like statues in the background, as if part of an audience, watching Todd conduct his sometimes prickly, but generally mundane, interviews.

  Would someone please explain why TBS, Fox, and the other networks televising postseason baseball are so obsessed with focusing cameras so much on fans in the stands? After a home run, big strikeout, or inning-ending defensive gem, the cameras are way too quick to switch away from the players interacting.

And isn’t it ironic? that while fans will pay thousands of dollars to buy a ticket from a scalper or some overpriced ticket service to watch the players and keep their eyes focused on the field, those people watching on TV are forced to keep absorbing far too many shots of what is going on in the stands.

When I see fans attending these games watching what is going on in the stands as much as on the field, I’ll change my mind.

HARDY’S CONTRACT EXTENSION SHOWS ORIOLES’ COMMITMENT

  The Orioles’ extending shortstop J. J. Hardy’s contract at least three more years, for an estimated $40 million, is great news. It shows the commitment of ownership and management to keeping the team at a championship-caliber level.

Sometimes I wonder whether people in Baltimore who see Hardy play every day, take his defensive skills for granted. Because he is such a smart fielder and exhibits flawless technique, he makes very difficult plays seem smooth but ordinary.

Hardy is not acrobatic, like Luis Aparicio, another Oriole great, or the flashy Ozzie Smith, a former Cardinals’ star at shortstop.

This summer, I heard two out-of-town TV commentators, Jerry Remy (Red Sox) and Ken Singleton (Yankees) both compare Hardy to the late Mark Belanger. Certainly, Hardy is a much better hitter than “The Blade,” who was a key part of the Orioles’ 1970 World Championship infield. But it is an extremely accurate comparison on defense.

Like Belanger, Hardy always seems to be positioned to approach the ball and make a strong, over-the-top throw without lunging and diving.

At first you think he just gets lucky bounces. But it’s a lot more than that. He anticipates, reads the ball perfectly off the bat, and always keeps his balance and form to make the most accurate throws. His style is, indeed, very similar to the smooth, lanky Belanger.

SINGLETON HAS BECOME A TERRIFIC YANKEES COLOR COMMENTATOR

  Speaking of Singleton, the former Orioles’ right field star has become a terrific color commentator on Yankees games. The Orioles keep missing the boat not bringing him back to work on their television broadcasts.

  This year’s Orioles team has a number of other players who also draw comparisons to former Baltimore standouts.

Although Nick Markakis isn’t a switch-hitter, he reminds me a bit of Singleton with his all-around consistency in right field.

Nelson Cruz should remind many of Frank Robinson the way he is such an intimidating offensive force with his power and run production.

Wei-Yin Chen has become another Scott McGregor on the mound.

And Bud Norris reminds me a bit of Tommy Phoebus with his tough, bulldog pitching approach.

How about Darren O’Day as Dick Hall?

And Andrew Miller as the reincarnation of Pete Richert? (who is now 74).

Maybe this is reaching, but I see Kevin Gausman as a cross between Bob Turley and Mike Mussina.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
EDITOR’S NOTE:  Over the weekend the Baltimore Sun released results of an independent poll showing Hogan and Brown within seven percentage points in the campaign for Maryland’s next governor. The two are scheduled to hold their second debate today, Monday, on Arlington, Va.’s NewsChannel 8, with additional debates to follow.  (For details, see VoB story — click here.)
 
CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S “INSIDE PITCH” COLUMN:  click here
…and read archived Dave Maril columns  by clicking here.