Orioles indicate broadcaster will be back after reports he was pulled over unflattering stats

BALTIMORE — Baseball fans should be talking about the Orioles owning the American League's best record.

They are hosting Houston, the defending World Series champs, for a three-game series this week.

Instead, much of the talk is consumed around why the young, talented broadcaster Kevin Brown has not been on the air in about two weeks.

The Baltimore Orioles indicated Brown would be back on the air soon after reports that his recent absence was because he mentioned that the team had already won as many games at Tampa Bay this year as it did over the previous three seasons.

"That (the team) should be the storyline," Baltimore sports content creator Bobby Trosset said. "And, once again, (Orioles CEO) John Angelos has stolen the show."

The Baltimore Banner, our media partner, says Brown will be back on Friday.

"Kevin Brown is really well-respected in the industry as a total professional," Banner's Andy Kostka said.

Announcers such as Michael Kay of the YES Network came to Brown's defense Monday night.

"MLB has to get involved," Kay, who does play-by-play for the New York Yankees, said on social media. "This is an awful look and a terrible thing to do to a terrific broadcaster."

So did New York Mets announcer Gary Cohen. 

"It's a horrendous decision by the Orioles," Cohen said. "I don't know what they were thinking and they've gotten exactly the reaction they deserve."

The Athletic, citing unidentified sources, reported that Brown was taken off the air over his comments on a MASN-TV broadcast July 23. He pointed out that the Orioles were already 3-2 at Tampa Bay this year after winning only three games there from 2020-22. (They then won again to improve to 4-2 in 2023.)

"Maybe it's a little hard to hear, but sometimes you need to hear the hard things," Orioles fan Tim Smith said.
"It just shows that you're not really able to manage your team that well," Orioles fan Justin Davis said.

The Orioles are not officially calling it a suspension.

A team official said Monday night that the Orioles "don't comment on personnel matters" but were "looking forward to having Brown back soon."