Former White Sox outfielder Tony Phillips might plead guilty to a cocaine possession charge and enter a diversion program that could leave him without a criminal record, his attorney said.
Such a plea could be entered later this month, Allan Stokke said at a pretrial hearing.
Municipal Court Judge Linda Miller set a new hearing for Oct. 21 at Stokke’s request.
The plea could qualify Phillips, as a first-time offender, for a program that includes drug counseling and testing.
If Phillips, traded by the White Sox to the Anaheim Angels early last season, stays clean, the charge may be dismissed. But if he uses drugs again, he could be sentenced for felony possession, Deputy District Attorney Michael Flory said.
Phillips was arrested at an Anaheim motel Aug. 10, after buying $30 of rock cocaine from an informant who acted as a middle man for a suspect later arrested for selling the drugs, police said.
Cone surgery: The New York Yankees’ team physician recommended that pitcher David Cone undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.
Dr. Stuart Hershon examined Cone at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and an arthrogramm and CAT-scan revealed no further damage to his pitching shoulder. Previous tests had shown inflammation, tendinitis and a small bone spur in Cone’s shoulder.
Cone will obtain a second opinion Monday from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
Stadim groundbreaking: The ceremonial shovels and politicians will be there–but the final plans for the new Tiger Stadium might not be–at a groundbreaking ceremony later this month.
Gov. John Engler and Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer will be wearing hard hats and hoisting shovels at the Oct. 29 event, but a complete design for the ballpark might not be ready, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Reds start trimming: The Cincinnati Reds cut $8.2 million off of next year’s payroll by choosing to let pitchers Kent Mercker and Mike Morgan and first baseman Hal Morris become eligible for free agency.
