ANGELS' PHILLIPS CHARGED.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Tony Phillips was charged in California on Tuesday with felony possession of cocaine and the Angels announced later that the infielder would not return to the lineup until he met with doctors representing baseball and the players' union.

Phillips was arrested early Sunday by Anaheim police who said he bought a small quantity of freebase cocaine at a motel.

After missing Sunday's game and spending Monday at his home in Arizona, Phillips entered the Angels clubhouse about 2-1/2 hours before Tuesday night's game against his former team, the Chicago White Sox.

Trailed by TV cameras and greeted by a media mob, he wouldn't comment. But seconds after arriving at his locker, the fiery leadoff hitter pointed his finger in the face of a Los Angeles writer and began lecturing him because the reporter had called him at home.

The Angels released a two-paragraph statement just before the game saying Phillips' status would be determined after his meeting with the doctors and a full review of all the facts.

A team spokesman said he did not know where or when Phillips would meet with the doctors.

Angels general manager Bill Bavasi said he, the players and Phillips would not comment.

``The reason we're not talking is because we have a pennant to try and win and the more we talk about this the more distraction there is to our ballclub,'' Bavasi said. ``We have a job to do. . . . We have a game to play.''

Manager Terry Collins said the decision on whether to start Phillips was his. Before the lineup was posted, he said it might be better for all involved if Phillips took the night off.

``With all that's happened and all that the stuff we've had to deal with the last few days, I might just want him to come back and be with his teammates and kind of take a deep breath and then get ready to hit it,'' Collins said.

``You have to realize that there is something that happened and obviously it's going to get a lot of publicity, but the only thing that matters is the performance on the field.''

The charge of possession of a controlled substance was filed against Phillips in Fullerton Municipal Court, said Kathi Harper, a supervisor in the Orange County District Attorney's office at Fullerton Municipal Court.

She said the charge carries a maximum sentence of three years, but first offenders completing a drug counseling program and periodic testing for up to a year can have the case dismissed, although they must first plead guilty on what is called ``deferred entry of judgment.''

The prosecutor's office supervisor said Phillips posted $10,000 bail after his arrest Sunday in Anaheim, and a Sept. 18 court appearance was scheduled.

Phillips' attorney, Allan Stokke, said Tuesday that the allegations are totally out of character for his client.

``The thing we wanted people to know is that there are no prior arrests or convictions, or anything of this sort,'' Stokke said. ``We do not have all reports yet, but we expect to examine all possible defenses.''

Stokke declined to talk about the facts of the case but said he had encouraged his client to get back to his work as quickly as he could.

Anaheim Police Lt. Dave Severson said Phillips was inside the motel with ``a loaded pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other.''

Published reports Tuesday quoted residents of the motel where Phillips was arrested as saying that the player frequented the motel and that he first showed up there a few months ago to visit an exotic dancer, who bragged of being his longtime friend.

Residents told the newspaper that Phillips would hand out money to poor pregnant women living there and give career advice to others, many of whom are addicted to drugs.

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Photo

Photo: (color) The Angels' Tony Phillips, facing a drug charge, did not play Tuesday in Chicago.

Associated Press