Doctors representing MLB and the MLBPA cleared the
Angels' Tony Phillips to play Saturday, but he did not
rejoin the team, pending further review by the Angels and
the Walt Disney Co. of his arrest on felony cocaine charges
in Anaheim, according to Mike Digiovanna of the L.A. TIMES.
Digiovanna: "It appears Disney ... is taking a stronger
stance against drug use than baseball." The team's decision
"could be a violation of baseball's drug policy and is
expected to draw a strong legal response from the players'
union, which has successfully fought to have players
reinstated under similar circumstances" (L.A. TIMES, 8/17).
EVERETT REJOINS METS: Mets OF Carl Everett rejoined the
team Friday in Denver amid allegations of child abuse. The
Mets repeated that they would take no disciplinary action
against Everett, despite Judge Richard Berman's decision
last week to keep Everett's two children in foster care.
Mets GM Steve Phillips: "[W]e're making the decision based
on what we think is the fair and proper thing to do. There
have been no judgments held against them saying they have
abused their children at this point" (NEWSDAY, 8/16).
