Strawberry ordered off field, one-year suspension likely

Thursday, February 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Darryl Strawberry trotted into a corner beneath the stands, slipped into the clubhouse and out of Legends Field. If or when he returns is not up to him or the New York Yankees.

Baseball ordered the 37-year-old outfielder to leave spring training because of a positive cocaine test, and commissioner Bud Selig will decide what happens next. There was a strong sign Wednesday that Strawberry could be suspended for the season. At his age, some believe that would amount to a lifetime ban.

"I hope it's not the end for him because I don't know what that would mean," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The only thing I'd say to the commissioner is I'm glad I'm not you. I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if this thing is going to go away."

The Yankees were taking batting practice when Strawberry was told to go to the clubhouse, where general manager Brian Cashman relayed the message that he was to leave camp until Selig acts. "We were trying to do it with as little fanfare as possible," Torre said.

The twice-suspended Strawberry met with Selig in Milwaukee on Tuesday, a day after revealing details about the drug relapse to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The commissioner was expected to decide Strawberry's fate today.

Asked if a one-year suspension was likely, a high-ranking baseball official, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said: "That's a good guess." Strawberry said he showed up for the first full-squad workout of the year with the two-time defending World Series champions to prove that he's not "running and hiding."

"You guys know I've always been forward," Strawberry said. "I came here today because this is where I feel I want to be. I really can't comment on anything right now."

Strawberry, who turns 38 next month, tested positive for cocaine Jan. 19, a violation of probation stemming from a no-contest plea to charges of cocaine possession and soliciting a prostitute in Tampa last spring. "I'm going to stand by him. I'm going to try to see that he rights his life. If it's in baseball, fine. If it's outside baseball, fine," Steinbrenner said. "It isn't like George has given him enough chances, now dump him. Dump him ... I don't think so." Torre said Strawberry called him shortly before his arrival at Legends Field and said he wanted to work out with the team.

Sincethe Yankees had not received any direction on the matter from baseball, the manager said OK. Strawberry made a brief statement to the media before changing into his uniform and accepting Torre's offer to address his teammates before the workout. "He didn't want to hide. I think that's the first thing he said to me," Torre said. "Obviously, he wouldn't have been here if that was the case. Right or wrong, we assumed since we didn't hear anything to the contrary that he was going to be able to workout."

Steinbrenner said he learned of the failed test on Monday, when Strawberry and his wife, Charisse, came to his office. Without elaborating, the owner said Strawberry talked about the circumstances surrounding the relapse.

Strawberry's first drug suspension was for 60 days in 1995 after he tested positive for cocaine. The second, from April 24 to Aug. 4last season, came after he was arrested in Tampa for possessing 0.3grams of cocaine.

Strawberry, the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year, has a .259 career average with 335 homers and 1,000 RBIs. Last year, he hit .333 with two home runs in the post season.

The Yankees were counting on him to be their regular designated hitter this season with the retirement of Chili Davis. Strawberry was recovering from colon cancer when he was arrested last April a few miles from the Yankees' minor league complex, where the club left him to work when spring training ended.

He was sentenced to 18 months' probation and 100 hours of community service. Among the factors Strawberry cited for that relapse were chemotherapy, which he claimed led to depression, and the Yankees' decision to open the season without him.