Baltimore Orioles announcer Kevin Brown was suspended over a comment made on July 23 about the team’s prior lack of success at Tropicana Field, according to reports. Awful Announcing first reported the news.
Brown indicated during an on-air broadcast that the Orioles had won more games on the road against Tampa in 2023 than the last three years altogether. The comment was backed up in the July 23 game notes, which are put together by the team’s public relations staff, according to the Athletic.
“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 said, per the Athletic.
Orioles’ ownership didn’t appreciate Brown pointing out the stat, believing it made them sound cheap, according to the Athletic. The Orioles currently rank 29th in payroll in the MLB. Despite the low payroll, the Orioles have managed to become one of the best teams in baseball in 2023. They entered Monday with a 70-42 record and sat atop of the American League East division. The turnaround comes just two seasons after the team lost 110 total games in the 2021 season.
Initially it was unknown when Brown would be reinstated, but Awful Announcing reported that a senior Orioles official communicated, “We don’t comment on personnel matters” and “We look forward to hearing Kevin’s voice soon.”
The Orioles also disputed the publication’s reporting that took place, per Awful Announcing.
Brown has been the Orioles’ lead TV play-by-play voice since 2022. He started as a radio broadcaster for Baltimore in 2019.
The initial news of his suspension was met with some displeasure across social media.
Michael Kay, the Yankees’ TV play-by-play broadcaster, called the initial suspension “an awful look.”
“Come on! Make it make sense. MLB has to get involved,” Kay wrote on a social media post. This is an awful look and a terrible thing to do to a terrific broadcaster. New York fans of both teams are so lucky. Neither ownership group ever censors the @Mets or @Yankees booth. The truth should never be penalized.”
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