The MLBPA filed a grievance yesterday in response to
the Angels' suspension of Tony Phillips, according to Chris
Foster of the L.A. TIMES. A hearing will be held today
before an independent arbitrator in New York. MLBPA
Associate General Counsel Gene Orza: "Tony has been cleared
to play, therefore he must play. No individual club can
supersede that policy and the Anaheim Angels know it." The
TIMES' Foster writes that the owners' Players Relations
Committee "could still step in to negotiate a settlement"
(L.A. TIMES, 8/20). The AP reported the owners' Executive
Council met yesterday and "instructed its lawyers to side
with Phillips and the union." The AP also cites an unnamed
source "saying the council might take disciplinary action
against the team" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 8/20). In Boston,
columnist Dan Shaughnessy: "Three cheers to the Angels for
at least attempting to do the right thing. They have done
what the Red Sox would not do: suspend their problem player
and allowed the Players Association to take on the role of
defending the accused" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/20).
