PROSECUTORS WANT PRISON FOR EX-PLAYER

Strawberry's Court Date Is Set For April 1 In Tampa

TAMPA - Darryl Strawberry will return to Tampa in April to face a judge who
took a chance - and a lot of criticism - last year when she put the former
Major League Baseball slugger on probation rather than in prison.

Prosecutors will continue to press for the latter.

``We're beginning to sound like a broken record,'' said Assistant State
Attorney Pam Bondi, ``but we feel like he needs a more restrictive
environment, and that environment is Florida state prison, where he can get
the counseling he needs.''

Strawberry remained behind bars Wednesday in Marion County. He probably
will remain there for at least a week, said a Marion County sheriff's
spokesman.

Strawberry is set to appear at 8:30 a.m. April 1 before Hillsborough
Circuit Judge Florence Foster, who was criticized by some in May when she
gave Strawberry a break after his fifth probation violation. She suspended
an 18-month prison sentence in favor of treatment at the Phoenix House, a
drug rehabilitation center north of Ocala.

Strawberry was arrested Tuesday, his 40th birthday, after he was booted out
of the Phoenix House. Part of Strawberry's probation was that he
successfully complete treatment there.

The former New York Yankee and Met, who won World Series titles with both
teams, broke several rules at the center, a probation report says,
including having sex with a female resident, smoking tobacco and other
lesser infractions.

Strawberry admitted to having sex with the fellow resident last week and in
January admitted he didn't take his prescribed medication when it was
handed out.

He also was confrontational during a Dec. 28 counseling session, which he
was asked to leave.

Other violations include supplying residents with cigarettes, having too
much money on him and giving cash to other residents, autographing
baseballs and cards, and shaving his head, the report said.

He also was accused of making ``indirect threats'' to staff and other
residents on several occasions and exchanging two baseballs for cigarettes
to someone outside the center.

The report said probation officers were encouraged that Strawberry never
tested positive for drugs at Phoenix House.

Probation officers did not have a recommendation, saying they would leave
that up to the court.

Strawberry's defense attorney, Joe Ficarrotta, could not be reached for
comment Wednesday.