MVP? Lasorda Says It Is Sosa

The nation has been captivated by the chase for the home run record, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are sharing the spotlight.

McGwire hit his 61st homer Monday afternoon to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over Sosa’s Chicago Cubs, tying Roger Maris’ record of 61 homers in 1961. Sosa failed to homer, remaining at 58.

And in addition to that race, McGwire and Sosa are also competing for the National League most-valuable-player award. The question of who deserves that award typically stirs discussion, and this season’s debate is especially hot.

Not surprisingly, Tom Lasorda offered a strong opinion.

“It’s gotta be Sosa,” said the Dodger interim general manager, who is accompanying the team on the trip. “Look at what Sosa has meant to his team this season.

“The award is for the most valuable player. It’s for the guy who is most valuable to his team. That’s what it’s all about.”

Of course, Lasorda doesn’t have a vote. Members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America select the winner in balloting at the end of the regular season, and the McGwire-Sosa question is intriguing.

McGwire leads the major leagues in many offensive categories, including homers, walks and slugging percentage, and is second to Sosa in the NL in runs batted in. Sosa is second to McGwire in homers and is also among the major league leaders statistically.

But Lasorda said he would vote for Sosa [if he could] because the Cubs have been in contention for the playoffs throughout the second half of the season, and Sosa is the reason. The Cubs are tied with the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race, and the Cardinals are under .500 and have already been eliminated.

Then again, McGwire is considered to have had the biggest impact in helping restore fan interest in the game.

“But if you take Sosa of that team, where would they be?” Lasorda asked. “That’s what you have to look at.”

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Center fielder Raul Mondesi sat out his third successive game because of recurring back stiffness and is listed as day-to-day.

When Mondesi returns, Manager Glenn Hoffman might move him to right field to ease the strain on his back. Mondesi--a two-time Gold Glove award winner in right--moved to center to accommodate Gary Sheffield earlier in the season. Sheffield is sitting out the rest of the season because of a severely sprained left ankle.

“Mondy’s the best guy we’ve got, and I’d leave him in center right now if I had my druthers,” Hoffman said. “But we’re trying to save the wear and tear on his back. I’d rather have him there [in right] than on the bench.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (10-9, 3.74 ERA) vs. DIAMONDBACKS’ BRIAN ANDERSON (11-12, 4.51 ERA)

Site--Bank One Ballpark, 7.

Radio--AM-1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--This is Valdes’ second start since coming off the disabled list. He pitched seven scoreless innings and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2, in his first game back on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.