We just…can’t have nice things. Not here in Birdland.
The 2023 Baltimore Orioles have been a revelation. On the field, as the first American League team to 70 wins, leaders of the AL East, owners of one of the most fun and exciting young rosters in the sport, and generally the talk of the baseball town. The front office has succeeded in creating the “elite talent pipeline” they promised. Their social media team has gone from boring corporate stiffs to some of the best in the business. Their PR staff has done wonders, innovating with one of the coolest attractions in pro sports, the Bird Bath in left field, celebrating former Orioles teams when appropriate, and even getting Adam Jones involved again.
Just high marks all around.
Yet, a cloud has hung over the season as O’s fans have been waiting…and waiting…and waiting for the team to sign the new lease at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with the current one set to expire after this year. But, dragging his feet on that front apparently wasn’t enough for owner John Angelos, who had to go and completely embarrass himself, his organization, and fans this week.
It came out yesterday that the reason we’ve not heard Kevin Brown on MASN nor WBAL radio in weeks is because of a comment he made on air back when the team was in Tampa. Was it an off-color slip of the tongue? An insulting quip? An egregious insensitive remark?
No. It was this:
Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown has been suspended indefinitely for making these comments about the Orioles' record against the Rays pic.twitter.com/uoSnReAI7S
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 7, 2023
More details on the story can be found at Awful Announcing, The Baltimore Banner, and The Athletic, where Britt Ghiroli included this ridiculous detail:
Oh, it’s somehow worse https://t.co/KImuJngfEY pic.twitter.com/MRqP2WFNay
— Zach Seidel (@Seidel_Z) August 7, 2023
For those of us old enough to remember John’s father, Peter, firing John Lowenstein or running the great Jon Miller out of town on a rail, this is all a terrible case of deja vu. The apple doesn’t fall far indeed.
Brown’s fellow MLB broadcasters took up his defense last night, and as Meg puts it here, maybe picking a fight with that profession wasn’t the best idea.
might have been a strategic error to suspend a well-liked member of a profession whose denizens broadcast their thoughts to a big audience for 2.5 hours every day idk
— Meg Rowley (@megrowler) August 8, 2023
Here’s a sampling of the soundbites from around MLB…
(2 of 2) pic.twitter.com/F4QsseViNk
— Gershon Rabinowitz (@GershOnline) August 8, 2023
NESN’s Dave O’Brien on Kevin Brown: “That’s a fiasco.” pic.twitter.com/9xkHGmdOrK
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 8, 2023
Jason Benetti taking shots at the O's pic.twitter.com/aDnElFLiuc
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 8, 2023
Gary Cohen on the Orioles/Kevin Brown controversy.
"Let me just say one thing to Baltimore Orioles management. 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." pic.twitter.com/HkKdr95hQp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 8, 2023
The Twins haven’t won a playoff game since October 5th, 2004. It’s negative but statistically accurate. Good thing I don’t work for the Orioles. Kevin Brown is a fantastic broadcaster and Baltimore’s ownership should know better.
— Cory Provus (@CoryProvus) August 8, 2023
It wasn’t just broadcasters, of course.
Reminder that Jon Miller is with the Giants because someone was a big, wet baby when it came to justifiably critical analysis. History repeating itself. https://t.co/ELwT2vtCP2
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) August 7, 2023
.@MadDogUnleashed torches John Angelos:
“This idiot Angelos, who’s never won a damn thing. … The idea that I got John Angelos who has done absolutely diddly in his career as an owner…and this guy is gonna demote Kevin Brown? That’s a disgrace.” #Oriolespic.twitter.com/zh6ZRHGyhG
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltimoree) August 7, 2023
Hope we don’t get in trouble for having fraternized with this brazen baseball outlaw. pic.twitter.com/TVUeetmaSZ
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 8, 2023
This is very simple. There are facts and opinion.
Kevin recited facts, and only facts.
If he’s been suspended for that, it’s my opinion that it is so small and ridiculous as not to be believed. https://t.co/uZZTD2vPr7
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) August 8, 2023
And finally…did you ever think Larry the Cable Guy would be Tweeting criticism of the Orioles? Well, you thought wrong.
I cannot believe this guy got suspended just for giving stats on the series history! That’s all he did. The O’s top brass need to grow a pair and enjoy the ride this year. Why keep series stats if they offend you. What a bunch a crybabies. #freekevinbrown https://t.co/asSXG4yyN7
— Larry The Cable Guy (@GitRDoneLarry) August 8, 2023
As reported in The Banner story above, Brown is supposed to be back with the team soon. But even if he is, why would he ever come back after this season, after being put through this so needlessly? The Orioles could have easily issued a comment saying “no, of course Kevin isn’t suspended, we love Kevin,” or something similar. Instead, they gave The Banner a lame “no comment” on employment matters, and then this suspension became the hot topic of the day in MLB.
It was likely a very uncomfortable night in The Warehouse. We’ll see what happens from here, but either way, this has all been a huge bummer for Orioles fans who were enjoying proudly wearing the colors for the first time in a long time.
