There’s been so much news circulating about the White Sox that you may have missed this strange story out of Baltimore.
Orioles play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Brown reportedly was removed from the MASN broadcasts after he made a reference to the team’s lack of success against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in previous years. The incident occurred prior to Baltimore’s July 23rd game vs. Tampa Bay, where Brown noted that the Orioles had won as many games at Tropicana Field in 2023 as they had in the past three years combined. The pregame segment also included a graphic that showed the record splits.
As other broadcasters found out about this on Monday, many voiced their displeasure with the Orioles’ decision. White Sox play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti was one of them, and he didn’t miss a chance to throw some shade during Monday night’s White Sox-Yankees broadcast.
During the top of the second inning, Benetti not-so-subtly pointed out that New York had beaten first-place Baltimore six times this season and then added, “I hope I don’t get suspended by the Orioles for saying that.” NBC Sports Chicago tweeted out the clip shortly after, which has since gone viral.
Benetti also put out a tweet prior to the broadcast to show his support for Brown, who has been with Baltimore since 2019 both as a television and radio broadcaster.
“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,” Benetti wrote. “He’s truly one of the best play-by-play announcers in the country. If the Orioles don’t want him, another team’ll be elated.”
Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen was another notable voice who chimed in, though he took a much more fiery tone during the Mets-Cubs broadcast on Monday.
“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,” Cohen said on SNY. “And if you don’t want Kevin Brown, there are 29 other teams who do.
“It’s a horrendous decision by the Orioles. I don’t know what they were thinking, but they got exactly the reaction that they deserve. It’s just a shame because the Orioles are playing so well and now they’ve diverted attention from that and now made themselves a laughing stock.”
This story might be one of the most peculiar you see this season, and luckily – maybe even surprisingly – it doesn’t revolve around the White Sox for a change. And for that, we’re thankful.
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Featured Photo: Ron Vesely/MASN