BASEBALL : No Apologies Coming From Lasorda

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, criticized in players union meetings for his enthusiasm toward replacement baseball, said Tuesday there’s no reason for him to apologize.

“You going to criticize me for being loyal, dedicated, and for loving my job?” Lasorda said. “Come on, I’m not going to apologize for that. I’m not going to moan and groan for having to be here.

“I have never, ever said that these guys will take the place of my real players. I want my players back. There’s nobody that wants and prays for the strike to end more than me, but what do they expect me to do, quit?

“I signed a contract to manage the Dodgers in ’95. (President) Peter O’Malley and the Dodgers have treated me great for 46 years, and I’m not about to turn my back on them.

“If Peter told me to manage 25 Little Leaguers, I’d treat it with the same enthusiasm as I would my players during the regular season.”

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Although O’Malley remains hopeful that a last-minute settlement can be reached, he said any regular-season games involving replacement players will count in the standings.

“If it comes to that, I can tell you the games will count,” O’Malley said. “For (union leader) Don Fehr, or anyone else to place any doubt on that, is nonsense.”