BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Denies Story About Move

Tom Lasorda, answering questions about his future in his strongest language yet, denied a story in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram that claimed he would move to the St. Petersburg Giants next season as manager for one year.

The story, citing sources close to the situation, said Lasorda would move to the front office in 1994 and close friend Bobby Valentine would become manager.

Lasorda, expounding on earlier comments, said he would not manage any other team next season but the Dodgers.

“I will fulfill my obligations,” Lasorda said, referring to the remaining year on his managerial contract. “I don’t believe that story. It is funny. It came out of Ft. Worth? Ft. Worth?

“Geez, next thing I know, those stories will be coming out of Maine.”

It is generally believed, however, that Lasorda would accept a general manager job with St. Petersburg if there were no such position available with the Dodgers.

Things are going so bad for the Dodgers, Brett Butler was removed from a game without his consent Sunday for the first time since he joined the team last season. Tom Goodwin batted for Butler to begin the sixth inning after the Braves had taken a 10-1 lead. “I was getting ready to go bat and I was told, ‘Forget it, you’re out,’ ” said Butler, who has hit in 20 of his last 22 games. “I guess they wanted to shake up the lineup a little bit. I don’t blame them. Everybody is frustrated.” . . . Both of the recently recalled prospects are struggling. Eric Young has two hits in his last 18 at-bats, falling to .206. Henry Rodriguez, with four hits in 24 at-bats since being recalled from triple-A Albuquerque, struck out on three pitches against Kent Mercker Sunday to strand runners on first and third in the eighth inning. It is doubtful the Dodgers will protect either player from this fall’s expansion draft.