O's Bechler Passes Away

[Max Power]

A guy I work with had an interesting point - - pro jock or not, how hard is it to not be in shape when you are 23 years old? He added: At that age, just being normal, you should not have a weight condition.

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by Max Power
A guy I work with had an interesting point - - pro jock or not, how hard is it to not be in shape when you are 23 years old? He added: At that age, just being normal, you should not have a weight condition.

I think sometimes that athletes place unreasonable expectations on themselves. He probably was in good shape but thought he had to be in better shape in order to compete.

[LisaG]

my husband and i are just a little older than bechler. there are a lot of guys who work with my husband who are in their early/mid 20s, not athletes, pro or otherwise, who have fat guts n butts (yeccch) and are majorly out of shape cuz they drink a lot of beer, eat a lot of fatty, sugary junk and lie around on the sofa. so Max, tell your coworker that a guy can certainly be a fat out of shape slob at 23.

but you're right about responsibility. these pro athletes (and minor leaguers are still pro) should be training in the offseason and come to camp ready. what ytown said about the military is absolutely right.

i still think that this guy had some sort of major physical problem and an eating disorder that made him extra susceptible to the effect of a heart and blood pressure stimulant. jayson stark can rave all he wants about banning supplements/drugs, but a fat (hahaha) lot of good that will do cuz there is still something wrong - the mentality that accepts and/or encourages taking these drugs/supplements. and there is something very wrong with guys who don't seem to realize they have an obligation to show up properly prepared for work.

[LisaG]

glen, no way was this guy in good shape- he came to camp 50 lbs overfat and he SHOULD have been in better shape

[Max Power]

This is sick!

http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0224/1513701.html

When David Meyer found out that Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler had passed away last Monday, he was shocked. It was only a week before that Meyer was introduced to Bechler through an autographed baseball card of the 23-year-old that had been sitting on Meyer's scanner -- the next card of his ready to command a measly sum on eBay.

Although Bechler's major-league career consists of only 4 2/3 innings in three relief appearances, he autographed more than 2,500 cards between Upper Deck and Donruss last year.

With supply high and in little demand, these cards averaged about $3 per auction before Bechler died of complications from heatstroke on Feb. 17. Since news of his death has circulated, eBay has been flooded with more Bechler items. His autographed cards are now averaging $20 apiece -- with some selling for as much as $38.

[Gosfgiants]

Death has always driven up the price of baseball cards. I seem to recall the same sort of spike in prices when Thurman Munson died. It's kind of like an artists paintings becoming popular after they die.

[LisaG]

sick is putting it mildly.

[gyb13]

next we'll see Ruben Rivera fake his own death, then try to sell his personal memorabilia on ebay