AND THE WINNER IS . . .

So Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone and club President Bob Graziano will meet with Fox officials this week to choose either Davey Johnson or Kevin Kennedy as manager and end this convoluted chapter in a season without end.

Those keeping score are aware that:

* Felipe Alou turned down a Dodger offer to remain with the Montreal Expos, although he can never be certain who his players will be or where his team will be playing in the future.

* Jim Leyland and Tom Kelly rejected opportunities to discuss possible offers with the Dodgers, Leyland choosing an offer from the Colorado Rockies to manage in the snake pit of Coors Field, Kelly opting to remain with the small-market Minnesota Twins despite a payroll that is expected to fall below $20 million.

The Kelly inquiry almost resulted in tampering charges against Malone and the Dodgers, indicative of the steps a once-attractive franchise has had to take to search out potential interest in its managerial opening.

Since the club obstinately refuses to consider the fresh fire of Davey Lopes and the replanting of some desecrated roots, it comes down to the recycling of either Johnson or Kennedy and the ongoing indecision can only be described as puzzling.

Given that the object is to win--yes, past management at times seemed satisfied if the team was merely competitive--then isn’t Johnson the obvious choice if it’s strictly between Johnson and Kennedy?

You can look it up. His .575 winning mark is the highest among active managers. Few have a more impressive resume.

In 10 full seasons, Johnson has never finished worse than second. He won with the New York Mets, the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He won with teams that were supposed to win and teams that were not. He won four division titles--the 1994 strike deprived him of a fifth--and one World Series championship.

Consider:

* The Mets were 65-97 and 68-94 in the two years before he became manager, then went 90-72 in his first year, 1984. In his six full seasons at their helm, they won 90 or more games five times and 100 or more twice. In the two seasons after his 1990 firing, they were 77-84 and 72-90.

* The Reds went 53-65 after he replaced Tony Perez in 1993 but 66-48 in strike-shortened 1994 and 85-59 in 1995, after which he was fired. They were 81-81 and 76-86 in the next two years.

* The Orioles were 63-49 and 71-73 in the two years before his hiring but 88-74 in 1996 and 98-64 in 1997, after which he was replaced by Ray Miller in what was equal parts firing and resignation. The Orioles, 48 games over .500 in Johnson’s two years at the helm, were 79-83 under Miller this season.

The record speaks for itself and is comparable to that of the late Billy Martin in the context of immediate impact. Johnson, of course, is also compared to Martin in the context of quickly wearing out his welcome--though that may be misleading.

Johnson had no chance in Cincinnati. Owner Marge Schott looked with disfavor on his living with a woman who later became his wife. Schott ticketed Ray Knight as his successor even as Johnson was leading the Reds to a division title in 1995 with Knight on his coaching staff.

In Baltimore, Johnson’s ego conflicted with that of another maverick owner, Peter Angelos. Angelos ultimately concluded that Camden Yards wasn’t big enough for both of them, leading to the departure of a manager who was two for two in directing the Orioles into the playoffs.

Malone, of course, was assistant general manager of the Orioles during that period. His wariness in response to Johnson’s unwavering self-esteem and penchant for wanting it his way is obvious in that he took several other managerial directions before turning back to Johnson in his quest for a manager with major league experience.

Make no mistake, there’s some baggage, some risk here, but if the Dodgers--with a payroll expected to exceed $70 million and a reputation for underachieving in an atmosphere devoid of chemistry--are looking for a kick start, for a leader with media savvy who comes with a bite and doesn’t care who he takes on or whose reputation is at stake, Johnson is the man.

Check out his ’97 playoff benching of Rafael Palmeiro, B.J. Surhoff and Roberto Alomar against Randy Johnson as illustration of his courage.

Check out the way he used the media in ’96 to put the squeeze on Cal Ripken Jr., regarding his desire to have Ripken move from shortstop to third base, an illustration of how Johnson defined and established his status as the clubhouse leader, usurping some of Ripken’s.

Bobby Bonilla, unhappy as a designated hitter on that ’96 Oriole team, said on leaving that he wouldn’t hire Johnson to manage his rotisserie team, but Johnson clearly has the strength to put the pieces where they need to be and help resolve the puzzle and potential powder keg that is the current Dodger roster.

If that triggers an explosion or two along the way, well, isn’t that better than no chemistry at all? Wouldn’t that almost be a catharsis?

The point here isn’t to cover up Johnson’s warts. It’s merely to say that if it’s truly down to these two, his ability to awaken a team in need of it seems stronger than Kennedy’s.

Kennedy was once a potential heir to Tom Lasorda but lost favor and was fired as Albuquerque manager in 1991. He resurfaced as manager of the Texas Rangers in 1993 and ’94 and was leading the division when the strike interrupted the ’94 season, before being fired in an organizational housecleaning. He managed the Boston Red Sox to a division title in 1995 but was fired after a third-place finish in ’96 as part of another shake-up.

Sources say Kennedy, who lives with his wife in the San Fernando Valley and works for ESPN, has been impressive in interviews with Malone, but the lingering concern stems from a perception that he failed to maintain tight enough reins on the Rangers and Red Sox, gave the players too much latitude--Jose Canseco, it will be recalled, blew out his arm when he was allowed to pitch in a game--and was too close to too many, one of the boys.

There are new beginnings and lessons to be learned. Who can’t profit from experience?

Maybe Kennedy has, but can the Dodgers--at financial and artistic crossroads--risk laissez faire leadership? Isn’t theirs a clubhouse looking for firmness not friendship, paddling not petting?

In Davey Johnson, the Dodgers would know what they are getting.

At his introductory news conference as Met manager in 1984, he referred to the club’s then-general manager, saying, “I want to congratulate Frank Cashen on being smart enough to hire me.”

Nothing has changed in 14 years. He and others hope Kevin Malone is smart enough too.