Debacle surrounding Orioles announcer Kevin Brown somehow gets ‘worse’

The more details that emerge, the uglier the Orioles’ announcer situation appears.

After MASN play-by-play commentator Kevin Brown was reportedly suspended for on-air comments about Baltimore’s poor play against the Rays — drawing widespread bashing from the sports world — new details have emerged exposing Baltimore’s brass further.

It’s not just wayward criticism that the Orioles are policing, according to The Athletic.

“Multiple sources briefed on the decision say ownership has enacted a new policy mandating that their broadcasters wear only team gear when on-air, which has rankled some. That snafu led to Brown filling in on radio after his comment in the Rays series because another broadcaster got in trouble,” the report read.

“Broadcasters have also been reprimanded previously for mentioning past Orioles players who are no longer with the team.”

“Oh, it’s somehow worse,” one Twitter user noted.

Even more, ownership had a problem with Brown pointing out that the Orioles had won three out of the first five games at Tropicana Field this season after winning just three of 21 games in Tampa Bay from 2020-22, believing the statistic made them sound cheap — even though it was in the game notes.

The team, which ranks 28th in MLB in payroll, has refused to comment on the situation.

“We don’t comment on employment decisions, however, Kevin Brown will be back with us in the near future,” an Orioles official told The Baltimore Banner.

The Orioles, who have made a surprising run to first place in the AL East this season with an AL-best 70-42 record, have been blasted by other commentators for the allegations.

“This makes the Orioles look so small and insignificant and minor league,” YES announcer Michael Kay said.  

“This idiot [John] Angelos, who’s never won a damn thing,” Chris “Mad Dog” Russo said. “This is the guy that gets (Brown) fired or gets him demoted or gets him silenced for a period of time as sort of punishment. Are you kidding me?! That is a disgrace. That is so bad, I don’t even know how to comment. Who would want to be a play-by-play guy of the Orioles?”

Former Russo tag-team partner Mike Francesa tweeted his two cents, and you can guess where this is going.

“Despite the standings, the Orioles showed themselves to be losers-and big losers at that- with their treatment of Kevin Brown,” Francesa wrote.

“Not only should Baltimore reinstate him. They should apologize profusely for their terrible error in judgement.”

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Phillies play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy also backed Brown in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“This make very little sense. He didn’t build the graphic and if he did, it only accentuated the great story of the Orioles,” McCarthy wrote.

“They should be proud of what they have done, not offended.”