Orioles announcer Kevin Brown reportedly suspended for broadcasting truth about team's former losing ways
Baltimore Orioles announcer Kevin Brown was reportedly suspended for seemingly benign on-air comments discussing the team's former losing ways.
Awful Announcing reported Monday that the Orioles suspended Brown indefinitely after a July series against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he made the comments in question during a pregame segment July 23. He hasn't been on the air since July 26.
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The Athletic confirmed that Brown was suspended and that his ban was because of his July 23 commentary. Here is the segment that reportedly got Brown suspended:
Here's the clip of Kevin Brown's pregame comments on the Orioles' recent record against the Rays ahead of a series finale on July 23. Sources tell AA these comments led to Brown's current indefinite suspension from Orioles' broadcasts. pic.twitter.com/csURU04fJU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2023
“It's been a minute," Brown said. "The Orioles split a two-gamer with the Rays in June. They had lost their last 15 series here at Tropicana Field. You have to go back to when our now-colleague Brad Brach picked up the win in the series finale June 25, 2017 — the last time the Orioles won a series here in St. Pete.
"Already gone 3-2 at the Trop this year after winning three of 18 the previous three years combined."
Brown made the comments while graphics on the broadcast supported the stats he cited, showing that the Orioles were 0-15-1 in their previous 16 series against the Rays. The Athletic reports that the same stats were cited in the team's game notes that day.
“The Orioles have won three of the first five games at The Trop this season after winning three of the 21 games played in St. Petersburg from 2020-22,” the game notes read, per The Athletic.
Ownership reportedly thought comments made the team look cheap
A source told the Athletic that the Orioles suspended Brown because ownership thought his comments made the team sound cheap. Baltimore is in first in the AL East this season and entered Monday with the second-best record in baseball, trailing only the Atlanta Braves. It's a stark contrast for a franchise that failed to place better than fourth in the division the previous six seasons, a span that includes four last-place finishes. The Orioles are winning this season despite having baseball's 29th-ranked payroll.
The Orioles denied in a statement to Awful Announcing that Brown had been suspended. They also announced that Brown will return to the booth.
“We don’t comment on personnel matters,” an Orioles official told Awful Announcing, adding, “we look forward to hearing Kevin’s voice soon.”
Mets announcer: Orioles brass 'draped itself in utter humiliation'
News of Brown's reported suspension caught the attention of the baseball world, including New York Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen. The longtime sportscaster blasted Orioles management during Monday's Mets game against the Chicago Cubs.
Gary Cohen on the Orioles/Kevin Brown controversy.
"Let me just say one thing to Baltimore Orioles management. You draped yourself in humiliation when you fired Jon Miller. And you're doing it again. And if you don't want Kevin Brown, there are 29 other teams who do." pic.twitter.com/HkKdr95hQp— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 8, 2023
"The Baltimore Orioles organization draped itself in utter humiliation with their treatment of one of their young broadcasters, a guy named Kevin Brown, who is one of the great young talents in broadcasting and this game." Cohen said. ... "Let me just say one thing to Baltimore Orioles management. You draped yourself in humiliation when you fired Jon Miller. And you're doing it again. And if you don't want Kevin Brown, there are 29 other teams who do."
NESN's Dave O'Brien likewise stood up for Brown during Monday's game between the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals.
NESN’s Dave O’Brien on Kevin Brown: “That’s a fiasco.” pic.twitter.com/9xkHGmdOrK
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 8, 2023
"Somebody didn't like the facts very much, and that's a fiasco that that's allowed to happen," O'Brien said. "I think every announcer in the league feels the same way. ... I thought it was a joke when I initially read it. ...
"I hope he's reinstated immediately when somebody comes to their senses in the front office of the Orioles."
White Sox announcer Jason Benetti, meanwhile, quipped that "I hope I don't get suspended by the Orioles" after discussing the Yankees' season series with Baltimore during Monday's game against New York.
NBC Sports’ White Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti spoke a bit about the Kevin Brown situation in Baltimore:
“… hope I don’t get suspended by the Orioles for saying that..”
🎥 @NBCSWhiteSox pic.twitter.com/77etkemuHW— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 8, 2023
Brown has not publicly addressed his absence or the reports of a suspension. He declined an interview request with The Baltimore Banner on Monday.
