Chili Davis pleaded Darryl Strawberry’s case to Major League Baseball yesterday as all of Yankeedom braced for word on what the commissioner now has in store for the lefty slugger.
Strawberry, out since April 24 on an MLB indefinite administrative leave, pleaded no-contest yesterday in Tampa to chargesof soliciting sex from an undercover female cop and cocaine possession.
“I’m not an attorney, not a judge, but if I had to look at it, I don’t think the Tampa police had a real strong case,” said Davis, a close friend of Straw’s dating to high school. “Unless she was wired and they had something on recording or unless they saw him passing money to her or they caught him at the hotel with her, they didn’t have any of the three. When they stopped him. He was away from the hotel.
“He explained the [cocaine] possession [it was his wife’s uncle’s],” Davis added. “Usage is another thing. He was tested and was found clean so he wasn’t using it. You have two choices: you can believe him or not believe him. Personally, I believe him.”
GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees are waiting for MLB to respond to yesterday’s plea before saying anything substantial. Only the Boss knows for sure, but the players and Joe Torre seem ready to welcome Straw back.
“I’m not going to say what [MLB] should do, but I hope they look at the fact he tested clean, even though he was in possession,” Davis said. “His explanation for it was logical. There’s been other guys in the game that have had second chances who were users. He’s been in that situation before but hopefully they’ll see he didn’t use it and had no intention of it.”
“Let me preface by saying he’s a friend and I’m a little biased, but I hope to see him in the clubhouse,” David Cone said. “He’s done too much the last few years to hold him back. When he walks through this clubhouse for the first time, I’ll be the first one to shake his hand.”
Torre said he spoke to Strawberry a week ago and was happy to learn that he is working out with an expectation of being in pinstripes soon.
“He sounded good and that was my concern,” Torre said. “Initially, when I spoke to him, he didn’t sound terrific. I don’t know what this means [for his career], but mentally he seems to be fine.
“He was working out, finished with the chemo and feeling good, taking care of his body conditioning,” Torre said. “He sounded like he was working out seriously to get himself ready to play baseball. Let’s see what [MLB] does.”
If Strawberry’s cleared to play, Torre said he would need weeks before being ready for The Bronx.
“He’s going to need to play some [minor-league] games,” Torre said. “He really hasn’t had any spring training to speak of. I’m sure he would need 2-3 weeks of baseball games to play. With his physical condition, over a two-three week period, I don’t know how many games that would mean because I’m not sure he can play every day.”