DODGERS : Lasorda Reveals Rejection of Oriole Offer

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who has no reservations about managing replacement players this spring, says he easily could have wound up working for an owner with an altogether different philosophy.

Lasorda revealed Saturday that he was offered the opportunity to manage the Baltimore Orioles this year but declined owner Peter Angelos’ lucrative inducement.

“I could have gone there; I talked to Mr. Angelos,” said Lasorda, beginning his 46th year with the Dodgers. “But I didn’t out of loyalty. I wasn’t going to turn my back on Mr. (Peter) O’Malley and the Dodgers.

“You can say whatever you want about me, that he’s full of bull . . . or talks too much Dodger blue, but the way to test a man’s loyalty is money.

“I mean, I had the chance to be manager and general manager of two teams (the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves) in my career, but I turned them down too. Loyalty is very important to me.”

Angelos, who refuses to field a replacement team, contacted Lasorda directly last September while Oriole Manager Johnny Oates still was under contract.

It became moot Sept. 23, when Lasorda signed a one-year extension.

The Orioles eventually fired Oates and replaced him with Phil Regan.

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Charlie Blaney, director of minor league operations, confirmed that 16 players in camp are receiving major league benefits.

Yet, he disagrees with the union’s stance that those players are considered strikebreakers.

“We already made a commitment to those players that we’d invite them to major league camp,” Blaney said. “Why should they be penalized? In our view, no one should be considered a strikebreaker until opening day on April 3.”

Said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president: “We want to be sensitive to this, but it’s our view that a player is not a replacement player unless he signs a replacement contract. The union obviously is taking a different stance.

“It’s like spring training, we feel we should have the right to play minor leaguers in exhibition games. After all, our obligation in spring training is player development. . . .

“When things are done to prohibit that, to put a player in a tough position, that isn’t right.”

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Piazza was a surprise visitor at Dodgertown.

But much to Lasorda’s chagrin, it was Vince Piazza, and not his son, All-Star catcher Mike Piazza.

“The first thing Tommy says to me, ‘Hey, when I called down to Boynton Beach to get Piazza here, I wanted Mike, not you,’ ” Vince Piazza said laughing. “ ‘I got the wrong Piazza. Go back home and bring back your son, will you.’

“I told him he doesn’t need to worry. Mike’s working out every day and looks great. . . .

“When this thing is over, Mike will be ready.”