Orioles play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Brown has reportedly been removed from MASN broadcasts after making a reference to Baltimore’s historical struggles against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
The incident occurred before a game against the Rays on July 23, when Brown pointed out the Orioles recent success at Tropicana Field in 2023 compared to their previous years’ performances.
A graphic highlighting the team’s difficulties at the stadium accompanied his commentary.
In a pregame segment, Brown stated: “The Orioles have managed to win as many games at Tropicana Field this year as they had in the past three years combined.” This observation, intended as a statistical insight, apparently rubbed the Orioles organization the wrong way for some reason.
Awful Announcing, a media outlet known for covering sports broadcasting, released a clip of Brown’s comments, which reportedly led to his removal from the broadcasts.
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
Both Awful Announcing and The Athletic reported that Orioles ownership took issue with Brown’s remarks. MASN, the broadcasting network through which Orioles games are televised, is jointly owned by the Orioles and the Washington Nationals.
However, the Orioles disputed claims of suspension and offered limited insight. A senior official from the team shared with Awful Announcing, “We don’t comment on personal matters. We look forward to hearing Kevin’s voice soon.”
The controversy surrounding Brown’s removal drew attention from across the MLB broadcasting community. Prominent broadcasters expressed their thoughts on the matter, with some defending Brown’s right to express his views and others criticizing the Orioles decision.
The Orioles, once among the struggling teams in baseball from 2018 to 2021, have experienced a remarkable turnaround this season. Currently occupying the top spot in the American League East, the team is aiming to make a lengthy postseason run.
Needless to say, there will be more to come from this story.
Virtually everyone in the baseball world seems to have Brown’s back…
Gary Cohen goes off on the Orioles.
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) August 8, 2023
Come on! Make it make sense. MLB has to get involved. 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. https://t.co/F1DrI5GVhk
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) August 7, 2023
Wow. This is an embarrassing suspension by the Orioles. Kevin Brown was simply stating a fact and underlying how good this team has been without being critical. Suspending him for this draws more attention. What a bad look during a fantastic season. https://t.co/5xqCLLdPfV
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) August 7, 2023
Kevin Brown SHOULD NOT have been suspended by the Orioles for this segment. He was doing his job, stating facts and telling the truth. pic.twitter.com/fOL2kQM4TS
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 7, 2023
Kevin Brown is one of the best, most prepared, most versatile broadcasters in the industry.
He did NOTHING wrong here. Zero.
The @Orioles have been one of the best stories in sports all year, but this is a horrendous look that needs to be fixed immediately. @masnOrioles https://t.co/EQRlKchg5r— Kevin Connors 💯 (@kevconnorsespn) August 7, 2023