BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Gives Mondesi a Pep Talk

Manager Tom Lasorda, concerned about right fielder Raul Mondesi’s recent play, met with the all-star right fielder for 25 minutes before Thursday’s game.

Lasorda and hitting coach Reggie Smith stressed to Mondesi his importance to the team, telling him he needs to keep his attention on baseball during this stretch drive.

Mondesi was hitting .158 since Aug. 24 with 10 RBIs and .111 with no RBIs since Sept. 4, but he homered in the eighth inning Friday night.

Said Mondesi: ‘I’m going to go out and try my best. That’s all I can do. I want to win as much as anyone else.”

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WGN radio apologized Thursday for a racist remark made Tuesday by Cubs’ broadcaster Harry Caray during a taping of a pregame show.

Caray posed a question to Chicago Manager Jim Riggleman about Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo, asking, “Well, my eyes are slanty enough, how ‘bout yours?”

“It’s very unfortunate that something like that is said, and I don’t condone it,” WGN program director Tisa LaSorte told the Chicago Tribune. “I’m sure Harry didn’t mean anything by it because everybody knows Harry’s not a malicious person. But it’s the kind of thing that makes people uncomfortable.”

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Mike Scioscia is frequently discussed as a major league managerial candidate but he says he would like to continue in his role as the Dodgers’ roving catching instructor. “I’m just getting my feet wet in this job,” Scioscia said. “I’m not interested in managing just yet.” . . . The Colorado Rockies have set their pitching rotation so that their top three starters--Bill Swift, Bret Saberhagen and Bryan Rekar--will pitch Sept. 25-27 against the Dodgers. The Dodgers are considering going with Nomo, Ramon Martinez and Kevin Tapani.