The Baltimore Orioles have indefinitely suspended their announcer, Kevin Brown, following comments he made on-air about the team's historically bad record against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The suspension is reportedly linked to remarks Brown made during the team's game against the Rays on July 23. The Athletic reported that multiple sources had confirmed Brown's suspension was due in part to his comments that day.
Brown said on MASN at the time, “It’s felt like this has been maybe the toughest ballpark to play in, but the Orioles have a chance to do something special today. They’ve already clinched at least a split in the series, winning two of the first three, and they could pick up a series win behind Tyler Wells today.”
He continued, “It’s been a minute; 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 Brock picked up the win in the series finale on June 25, 2017, the last time the Orioles won a series here at St. Pete. Already got three and two at the Trop this year after winning three of eighteen the previous three years combined.”
According to multiple sources, Orioles ownership took offense to Brown's remarks as they believed he was implying that the team was being tightfisted in its spending. The team's payroll currently ranks as 29th out of 30 teams in Major League Baseball.
Brown was allowed to make an announcement for the Orioles on the radio the next series against Philadelphia but Awful Announcing noted that it was only because another announcer got in trouble with the team.
However, a senior Orioles official told The New York Post on Tuesday that Brown will be back, saying, "We look forward to hearing Kevin's voice soon."
The Orioles' public relations staff had noted in-game notes earlier in July that the team had won three of the first five games at The Trop this season, after winning just three of 21 in St. Petersburg from 2020-22.
It is unclear when Brown will be reinstated as the Orioles announcer but sources close to the situation are hopeful that it will be soon. Until then, the team will have to forge ahead without his commentary.
Exclusive: Orioles announcer Kevin Brown removed from booth for comments on lack of previous wins https://t.co/SadwXBiHNi pic.twitter.com/EibRM6Nx9m
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2023