08 August 2023 , 15:08
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Members of the media have taken aim at the Baltimore Orioles for their decision to suspend announcer Kevin Brown.
During a live broadcast, he said the MLB team had won more games at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, in 2023 than in the last two years combined. He added that the Orioles have lost their last 15 series there and the team is said to have been upset with the comments, despite them being factually correct.
Brown’s last appearance on MASN came during a series with the Philadelphia Phillies in late July and he has since been removed from the airwaves. His fellow announcers are outraged by the result and have shared their views on the matter, such as New York Mets' television play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen.
“Let me just say one thing to Baltimore Orioles management,” he said. “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."
Miller was famously fired in 1996 because team owner Peter Angelos said he wanted someone who would, “bleed more orange and black.” Miller went on to call games for the San Francisco Giants and was named the Ford C. Frick Award winner by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
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ESPN’s Michael Kay said: “MLB has to get involved. This is an awful look and a terrible thing to do to a terrific broadcaster.” Chicago White Sox play-by-play guy Jason Benetti took a swipe at the Orioles while commenting on a White Sox game against the New York Yankees on Monday.
He stated that the Yankees had beaten the Orioles six times this season and then said: "I hope I don't get suspended by the Orioles for saying that." The 39-year-old then took to Twitter to add to the members of the media supporting Brown.
"Kevin Brown is one of the most talented, thoughtful, curious, positive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, working with and calling a friend," he wrote. "He’s truly one of the best play-by-play announcers in the country. If the Orioles don’t want him, another team will be elated."
The Orioles will next play a three-match series at Oriole Park against the Houston Astros and Brown us not scheduled to commentate (Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)More details have emerged regarding the Orioles' organisation. According to The Athletic, Brown filled in on the radio after his comment in the Rays series because another member of the team's broadcast was in trouble with management. They have also introduced a new policy that requires broadcasters to only wear team gear when on air and are forbidden from mentioning the names of former players.
An Orioles team official told The Baltimore Banner that Brown is set to return to his role soon. “We don’t comment on employment decisions, however, Kevin Brown will be back with us in the near future,” they said.
The Orioles will be in action on Tuesday to begin a three-game series with the Houston Astros at midnight GMT (August 9). They will be keen to extend their lead at the top of the AL East and improve their record of 70-42, the best in MLB.