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05-08-2003, 10:12 AM
So sad for Brook.
Fordyce's birthday is hardly celebration
Catcher copes with death of dad by playing 9 innings
By Roch Kubatko
Sun Staff
Originally published May 8, 2003
A bundle of colorful balloons was delivered to catcher Brook Fordyce's locker yesterday morning at Camden Yards, a thoughtful gesture on his 33rd birthday that couldn't penetrate his grief. The joy that should have been derived on such an occasion never reached him.
The Orioles' catcher tied one balloon to his chair and carried the rest out of the clubhouse, trying with each step to clear his head of the tragedy that would make this game the most challenging of his professional career.
Fordyce insisted that he wanted to play yesterday before leaving the club to attend his father's memorial service, and manager Mike Hargrove obliged by including him in the lineup. Setting the target for starter Omar Daal, Fordyce became a central figure in the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
He stayed for all nine innings, going 0-for-4, before heading home to Connecticut, where his father, Tom, died of heart failure Tuesday. The service will take place Saturday, and Fordyce will rejoin the team in Chicago after a four-game series in Kansas City that begins tonight.
"We had a good talk and he said he was going to be here for the game and he would like to play. He said that's what his father would want him to do," Hargrove said. "I don't know that I could play, but Brook wanted to and we honored his wishes."
Said second baseman Jerry Hairston: "I'm very close to my father, and I can really understand why Brook wanted to play. I respect him a whole lot."
Hargrove took Fordyce into his office during the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, where his wife, Jacqueline, broke the news.
Under the bereavement-list rule included in Major League Baseball's latest collective bargaining agreement, the Orioles are allowed to bring up a player from the minors to replace Fordyce. They'll purchase the contract of Roberto Machado today from Triple-A Ottawa.
Fordyce is required to stay off the roster from three to seven days before rejoining the Orioles.
Tom Fordyce's death was the latest unfortunate incident to strike the Orioles' family this year. Pitcher Steve Bechler died Feb. 17 of complications related to heatstroke. The father of radio broadcaster Jim Hunter died in March, and Hargrove missed six games last month to be with his ailing mother in Texas.
Machado arrives
Machado arrived at Camden Yards yesterday and found his jersey hanging in Cal Ripken's old locker in the far corner of the clubhouse.
Nothing should surprise him these days.
The Milwaukee Brewers released Machado, 29, this spring, and the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract and put him on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He reported to Sarasota, Fla., to rehab the leg, and appeared in only nine games at Ottawa.
If the Orioles wanted to go with the hot hand, Machado was an easy choice. Both of his homers came this week, including a grand slam Sunday against Toledo. He added a two-run shot Tuesday and was batting .424 with nine RBIs.
The Orioles also are getting some major league experience with Machado, a career .237 hitter in parts of seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs and Brewers. He batted .263 in 73 games last season with the Cubs and Brewers.
"It's a good feeling to be back playing, and to be back in the big leagues, as well," he said.
"To come into spring training being the everyday catcher and you get hurt and they let you go, I think pretty much everybody would feel down, but I tried to keep my head up and work my way up again."
The Orioles transferred pitcher Erik Bedard to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Machado on the 40-man roster.
Hentgen gets another start
Hargrove confirmed that Pat Hentgen will make his next start on Sunday against the Royals. Hentgen will continue to replace Rodrigo Lopez, who is on the disabled list with a strained muscle on his side.
Starting for the first time Tuesday, Hentgen allowed four runs and seven hits over four innings, but didn't get the decision in a 7-6 loss to the Tigers. If he could make any changes, they would mostly center on pitch selection.
"I threw too many cutters," Hentgen said. "I needed to throw more fastballs."
Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun
Fordyce's birthday is hardly celebration
Catcher copes with death of dad by playing 9 innings
By Roch Kubatko
Sun Staff
Originally published May 8, 2003
A bundle of colorful balloons was delivered to catcher Brook Fordyce's locker yesterday morning at Camden Yards, a thoughtful gesture on his 33rd birthday that couldn't penetrate his grief. The joy that should have been derived on such an occasion never reached him.
The Orioles' catcher tied one balloon to his chair and carried the rest out of the clubhouse, trying with each step to clear his head of the tragedy that would make this game the most challenging of his professional career.
Fordyce insisted that he wanted to play yesterday before leaving the club to attend his father's memorial service, and manager Mike Hargrove obliged by including him in the lineup. Setting the target for starter Omar Daal, Fordyce became a central figure in the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
He stayed for all nine innings, going 0-for-4, before heading home to Connecticut, where his father, Tom, died of heart failure Tuesday. The service will take place Saturday, and Fordyce will rejoin the team in Chicago after a four-game series in Kansas City that begins tonight.
"We had a good talk and he said he was going to be here for the game and he would like to play. He said that's what his father would want him to do," Hargrove said. "I don't know that I could play, but Brook wanted to and we honored his wishes."
Said second baseman Jerry Hairston: "I'm very close to my father, and I can really understand why Brook wanted to play. I respect him a whole lot."
Hargrove took Fordyce into his office during the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, where his wife, Jacqueline, broke the news.
Under the bereavement-list rule included in Major League Baseball's latest collective bargaining agreement, the Orioles are allowed to bring up a player from the minors to replace Fordyce. They'll purchase the contract of Roberto Machado today from Triple-A Ottawa.
Fordyce is required to stay off the roster from three to seven days before rejoining the Orioles.
Tom Fordyce's death was the latest unfortunate incident to strike the Orioles' family this year. Pitcher Steve Bechler died Feb. 17 of complications related to heatstroke. The father of radio broadcaster Jim Hunter died in March, and Hargrove missed six games last month to be with his ailing mother in Texas.
Machado arrives
Machado arrived at Camden Yards yesterday and found his jersey hanging in Cal Ripken's old locker in the far corner of the clubhouse.
Nothing should surprise him these days.
The Milwaukee Brewers released Machado, 29, this spring, and the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract and put him on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He reported to Sarasota, Fla., to rehab the leg, and appeared in only nine games at Ottawa.
If the Orioles wanted to go with the hot hand, Machado was an easy choice. Both of his homers came this week, including a grand slam Sunday against Toledo. He added a two-run shot Tuesday and was batting .424 with nine RBIs.
The Orioles also are getting some major league experience with Machado, a career .237 hitter in parts of seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs and Brewers. He batted .263 in 73 games last season with the Cubs and Brewers.
"It's a good feeling to be back playing, and to be back in the big leagues, as well," he said.
"To come into spring training being the everyday catcher and you get hurt and they let you go, I think pretty much everybody would feel down, but I tried to keep my head up and work my way up again."
The Orioles transferred pitcher Erik Bedard to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Machado on the 40-man roster.
Hentgen gets another start
Hargrove confirmed that Pat Hentgen will make his next start on Sunday against the Royals. Hentgen will continue to replace Rodrigo Lopez, who is on the disabled list with a strained muscle on his side.
Starting for the first time Tuesday, Hentgen allowed four runs and seven hits over four innings, but didn't get the decision in a 7-6 loss to the Tigers. If he could make any changes, they would mostly center on pitch selection.
"I threw too many cutters," Hentgen said. "I needed to throw more fastballs."
Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun