In Many Ways, He Is Irreplaceable

He claims to bleed Dodger blue and worship the big Dodger in the sky.

He brought hugs to the dugout and Sinatra to the clubhouse.

He spun baseball stories with reporters over won ton at Paul’s Kitchen, filled his office with postgame pasta and pizza, bellowed in team meetings during which players often counted the number of epithets, and filled up tape recorders with expletives when he didn’t like a story or question.

If Tom Lasorda’s two decades as manager of the Dodgers were often characterized by a little more schmaltz than strategy, there is also this:

No manager has ever been--nor probably ever will be--more synonymously linked to his organization, nor more of an ambassador for it and his sport.

No manager has ever approached his job with more enthusiasm and energy.

No manager--well, almost none--has ever seemed more likely to reach the Hall of Fame.

Lasorda is expected to resign as manager of the Dodgers after 19 1/2 years today, with Bill Russell becoming his successor.

It is a landmark decision in the history of the Dodgers and Los Angeles sports--reached after several days of meetings among Lasorda, owner Peter O’Malley and Fred Claire, executive vice president.

What went into it wasn’t clear Sunday. Lasorda had said that doctors monitoring his recovery from a mild heart attack had approved his return.

It is believed, however, that doctors also told him that if he developed trouble on a plane or in a hotel while the team was on the road, it could be a serious situation, and that Lasorda chose not to gamble with that potential problem.

Who would have believed he would give up the uniform voluntarily?

Think blue?

What else has Lasorda thought during 47 years in the organization as pitcher, scout, minor league manager and major league coach and manager?

He had opportunities to leave--most notably when George Steinbrenner offered him a piece of the Bronx to manage the New York Yankees in the ‘80s--but Lasorda always resisted.

Has there ever been a better illustration of his dedication than that time in the ‘60s when, as a scout trying to sign Los Angeles outfield phenom Willie Crawford, he delivered an impromptu eulogy at the funeral for Crawford’s father?

When hasn’t he been ready to speak? Often free. More often at a price. Always selling the Dodgers and the game.

He is certain to be given a front-office position as advisor/ambassador, but the downstairs terrain will never be the same.

Having last managed a game on June 23, Lasorda leaves with a record of 1,613-1,455. Only Walter Alston, with 2,040 wins in 23 years as his predecessor, won more games or had a longer tenure among Dodger managers.

The record is impressive.

The Dodgers won two World Series titles, four National League pennants and eight Western Division championships under Lasorda. Yet, his managerial skills have always been subject to criticism and it has always been difficult to capture the definitive Lasorda.

He has been knocked as:

--More motivator than mastermind.

--A poor handler of pitchers.

--Quick to put excessive pressure on young players.

--Too apt to wait for the home run rather than trying to fashion an attack.

It has been a litany, particularly in recent years, when some believe Lasorda’s annual rehiring has been tied to O’Malley’s uncertainty regarding a successor. Russell’s interim performance has relaxed the uncertainty.

The Dodgers reached the World Series three times in Lasorda’s first five years, when he inherited the maturing team of Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Russell, Davey Lopes and others at its peak, a team ready for change under the aging Alston, but he led the Dodgers back to the Series only once after 1981.

The farm system went dry in the ‘80s, contributing to that drought, but the Dodgers have also been saddled with the label of underachievers in recent years, and the ’96 team has been inexplicably inconsistent from the start.

How much is the manager responsible for his team’s play?

Well, there have been more than 185 managerial changes during Lasorda’s tenure, an indication that most clubs hold the manager responsible.

In Lasorda’s case, however, was it the manager being appraised or the showman and salesman? As he was often quick to point out, for example, if he couldn’t manage young players, how come he had eight rookies of the year?

What that sales pitch fails to mention is the longer list of disgruntled young players who went on to other organizations to find success.

All of it is for the historians to decide.

Let them weigh the question of pitching to Jack Clark or Lasorda’s handling of young players and the bullpen.

He steps down, saving the organization for which he has been a statesman the task of eventually forcing him to step down.

There might have been some pressure on him as it is, concern by O’Malley and Claire for his health, but Lasorda will insist today it was his decision.

Who can argue? Does he bleed Dodger blue?

OK, Tommy . . . we believe, we believe.

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LASORDA BY THE NUMBERS

Number of seasons with Dodgers: 47

Number of seasons managing Dodgers: 20

Managerial victories (12th all-time): 1,613

Career winning percentage (23rd all-time): .526

Number of World Series victories: 2

Number of National League titles: 4

Postseason games (2nd all-time): 61

Managerial changes since Lasorda hired: 185