Big Dodger

News Item: "Manager Tommy Lasorda Hired for Another Year at Dodger Helm." What would baseball be without Tommy Lasorda? You don't want to know. A meal without wine, a day without sunshine, a dance with your sister. Any cliche you want. A life without song. Not to see that wonderful character bounding out of the dugout, belly first, fist pumping, bowlegs churning, throat yelling on his way to the umpire to straighten him out and tell it like it should be one more time? Never!

The Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in 10 innings Wednesday night, heating up the remnants of a cold and dampened crowd of 30,065 at Dodger Stadium. Amid a steady mist, the Dodgers ended a 5-2 home stand that left them within one game of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West when Cory Snyder singled in Henry Rodriguez against Larry Andersen with one out in the 10th inning. Andersen had walked Rodriguez and Tim Wallach to open the inning.

There once was a lad named Darryl Whose career in New York was in peril He came home to play Things did not go his way And soon he will wear new apparel. May the Big Dodger in the Sky forgive me. PATRICK SHANE Burbank Goodby to Eric Davis. Now how about getting rid of Darryl and Fred so we can say that good things come in threes? WILLIAM FERRARO Long Beach

Campy, I'm sorry. I had always meant to write a letter to you, to thank you for your many years of positive role modeling, and for your on- and off-the-field service to the Dodger organization. I just never got around to doing it, and now you're gone. As a youngster growing up in the '50s in Brooklyn, it was a real treat to visit Ebbets Field, and to see you and the rest of "The Boys of Summer." Why it was that I idolized you, a man of a wholly different color and ethnicity than myself, and who played catcher, a position I personally despised playing, I'll never know.

Cut through all the hugs and high-fives and head butts--"Yep, there was some guys so excited they were butting heads," said Mitch Webster--and the message sent by the Dodgers to the rest of the league Monday night was clear. You can only push them so far.

The New York Mets got their first look at the new Darryl Strawberry Friday when the Dodger outfielder greeted his former teammates with waves, warm embraces and autographs that referred to Bible verses. They also saw the old Strawberry, as he shut up a stadium full of boo birds with a 400-foot home run, a run-scoring double and a throw from right field that nailed Gregg Jefferies at home plate. The Dodgers lost a game, but Strawberry made a point.

He used to be the first man out of the dugout. Now he is the last one to leave. Tom Lasorda, accustomed to jumping on the field to celebrate wins, stayed in his seat again Sunday, sitting motionless for 10 minutes after another Dodger loss. Alone, staring at an empty infield as workers moved around him to pick up bats and empty water buckets, Lasorda sat. Later, from his Wrigley Field clubhouse office, he stated what had already been made very clear. "This kills me," he said. "It just kills me."

Over the years, there have been those who have loved the Dodgers. Really, truly loved them. Bled blue for them. Screamed the names of Jackie, Duke and Fernando. Worshipped Pee Wee, Junior and the Garv. Cheered for Sandy. Cried for Campy. Admired Alston. Stayed tuned to Scully. There also have been those who have loathed the Dodgers. Really, truly hated them. Came to think of them as Yankees West. Disliked every hitter from Zack Wheat to Pedro Guerrero.

I am sick and tired of hearing the same old meteorological report from the Dodger front office: "Sunny today, no Raines in sight." Tim Raines is clearly the center fielder that millions of L.A. fans have been praying for (the same millions who pay admission to Dodger games). I am sure the Big Dodger in the Sky would give the long-reformed superstar his blessing to help put the Dodgers in the World Series. If Dodger management truly has no intention of pursuing Tim Raines after the dam breaks on signing free agents, then watch out. Disgruntled fans will change the music from "Blue Skies" to "Stormy Weather" in a hurry.

Vice President Al Campanis popped up in the Dodger clubhouse Monday night, the jauntiness of his words matching that of his stride. "A couple of months ago you were asking me when I was going to retire," said Campanis, who had been in Albuquerque over the weekend watching the Dodgers' Triple-A team. "Well, we're going to win the pennant."