That makes it news. Generally how a reporter gets an interview for a story means nothing to fans. In this case, it is significant and shows how Belle can affect a team's chemistry. In the regular season, reporters have to wait 10 minutes to get into a clubhouse. In spring training, it is a convenience thing to get into the clubhouse early.
Reporters can get a jump on filing their stories.
Players don't have to wait around. They can talk to reporter and leave before the game is complete. It's a scenario that works beautifully in every park in Florida and Arizona. Now, the Orioles, who asked reporters not to write about Belle's tirade, are closing their clubhouse during exhibition games. This isn't a major threat to the first amendment to the Constitution, but it changes the rules and makes life inconvenient for Belle's teammates and reporters trying to do their job.