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Orioles put miserable week behind them Posted: Monday February 24, 2003 5:42 PMUpdated: Tuesday February 25, 2003 12:24 AM FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- If this was a typical spring training for the Baltimore Orioles, then manager Mike Hargrove's assessment of Monday's intrasquad game might have been right on target. "Intrasquad games are a little like kissing your sister," he said. "It's necessary to say goodnight to them when you kiss them, but you don't necessarily look forward to it." Not in this case. Following the most grievous week in team history, the players were delighted to turn their attention toward playing in a game situation. Although the Orioles may never get over the tragic death of 23-year-old pitcher Steve Bechler, they welcomed the opportunity to start a new week by playing in a baseball game -- even a simulated one that lasted only four innings. "It's been a tough week for us, for the ballclub and the Bechler family," second baseman Jerry Hairston said. "We lost a member of our family; that's the way we look at it. "Obviously, he's going to be missed. But at the same time, Beck would want us to move on and really start the season well. It's a sad situation, but the guys are doing the best they can. Hopefully, we can somehow get through it." Exactly one week earlier, the Orioles were summoned from the field and told that Bechler had died of heatstroke, less than 24 hours after he collapsed during a workout. The Broward County chief medical examiner has linked the death to a diet supplement containing ephedrine. Coping with the death of a teammate was a new, unwanted feeling for the majority of the Orioles. "It's been an unusually tough start for a lot of us," outfielder Chris Richard said. "It's the first time for a number of us that someone close has passed away like this. You've just got to get through it and take it day by day." On this day, Jeff Reboulet took the first step toward earning a roster spot as a utility player. Signed as a minor league free agent shortly before the opening of camp, Reboulet singled and made two sensational plays at shortstop, including a leaping grab of a liner off the bat of Marty Cordova. Reboulet's standout performance in the meaningless game didn't seal the deal in his bid to earn a major-league contract. But it sure didn't hurt. "You don't make a decision the first day, but you start gathering information. You remember things from Day One," Hargrove said. "Certainly, the way Jeff played left a good impression, and we'll remember that. But I don't think there's anyone who made the club, or didn't make the club, today." The Orioles did, however, take another step toward returning to normalcy.
"Every day is a little bit better," first baseman-outfielder
Jay Gibbons said. "The last couple days we've been going out there
and taking care of business, but obviously it's still in the back
of your mind. It might be there for a while."
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