CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - J.D. Drew's holdout has cost
the Philadelphia Phillies' 1997 first-round draft choice more than just money and
a year's development. 

Lenny Dykstra and Mark Parent criticized the
outfielder Monday for not getting
on with his baseball career, saying the former college
player of the year has
lost their respect. 

``He's in dangerous waters right now,'' Dykstra said.
``He's a good player, but
you make it hard on yourself when you've got people
going against you.'' 

The people Dykstra was referring to are Drew's
would-be teammates, who are
having a hard time understanding why he has turned
down a multi-million-dollar
offer from the Phillies. 

``I think a lot of guys resent him. Wouldn't you?''
Parent said. ``I wouldn't
cover his butt.'' 

The Phillies offered Drew a little more than $2
million after they made him the
second overall pick in last year's June amateur draft.
Drew's agent, Scott
Boras, claims several other teams are willing to pay
$11 million to sign Drew.
Negotiations have been fruitless. 

The comments by Dykstra and Parent came on the day of
a meeting between the
players' association and management's Player Relations
Committee, necessary
before next month's start of a grievance challenging
the draft. The union hopes
to convince an arbitrator that Drew should be a free
agent. 

Pitcher Curt Schilling questioned Drew's commitment
earlier in spring training.


``There's something to be said for paying your dues,''
said Parent, a nine-year
veteran. ``That's why, when you get here, you've
earned the right to be here.''


Parent said a ``certain amount of damage'' has already
been done. ``I think
he'd have to work pretty hard to earn respect around
here,'' he said. ``I don't
know if just being good would cut it.'' 

Dykstra said his first pro contract was for $12,000. 

``This ain't college. This ain't Florida State,''
Dykstra said. ``This is the
big leagues, playing with grown men who are trying to
make a living.'' 

Both Parent and Dykstra said that if Drew does sign
with the Phillies, they
would both expect him to offer an explanation for his
actions. 

``I think he's starting to find out that whatever his
reasons are, it just
doesn't look good,'' Dykstra said. 

Dykstra, who has seen Drew play, said, ``There's no
question about his
skills.'' 

``He needs to go down to the minor leagues for a year
and get used to the wood
bats and the travel, but I don't see him being down
there for any more than a
year,'' he said.




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