DODGERS NOTEBOOK: LASORDA'S MVP PICK? SOSA.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

On the day the St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire tied Roger Maris' all-time single-season record with 61 home runs, Dodgers general manager Tom Lasorda cast his unofficial Most Valuable Player vote for the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa.

``It's got to be Sosa,'' Lasorda said. ``Look what Sosa has meant to his team this season. The reward is for the most valuable player. It is the guy who is most valuable to his team. That's what it is all about.''

MVP voting, which is done by writers covering major-league baseball and is based only on regular-season contribution, is largely subjective. But it usually is given to the player who has most helped his team.

In 1974, the Cardinals' Lou Brock was named National League Player of the Year by The Sporting News after stealing a then-major-league-record 118 bases. But the Dodgers' Steve Garvey was named MVP after taking the club to the World Series.

Last year, Colorado's Larry Walker was named NL MVP after winning batting and RBI titles. Mike Piazza batted .362 with 40 homers, 124 RBI and a .360 average with runners in scoring position. He also kept the Dodgers in the NL West race until the final weekend.

Sosa, who has 58 homers, has been critical to the Cubs' climb from a last-place team (68-94) a year ago to an 80-64 record and a tie with the New York Mets for the NL wild-card lead.

McGwire, who hit No. 61 in the first inning of Monday's 3-2 victory over the Cubs, has electrified the country with his pursuit of Maris' record. But the Cardinals, preseason favorites to win the NL Central, have gone 70-73, 20-1/2 games behind division-leading Houston.

``If you take Sosa off that team,'' Lasorda said, ``where would they be?''

Park to Japan: Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park has agreed to participate in the annual eight-game All-Star series in Japan beginning Nov. 1 against a collection of all-stars from the Japanese leagues.

Park, who spends much of the winter in his native South Korea, will fly to Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 27 for a two-day workout. He then will head to Japan for the opening game against the world famous Yomiuri Giants. Park will earn $83,000.

Park also is being recruited by South Korea to play for the national team in the Asian Games, which begin Dec. 15 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Dodgers have yet to grant him permission to play.

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Bank One Ballpark.

TV/Radio: No TV; 1150-AM, KWKW 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: In the second of three games with the Diamondbacks, right-hander Ismael Valdes (10-9, 3.74) faces left-hander Brian Anderson (11-12, 4.51) Valdes is making his second start since missing five weeks with a strained side muscle. He came back to allow five hits and no runs in seven innings last Tuesday against Philadelphia. Anderson, the former No. 1 pick of the Angels, is the National League leader for fewest walks per nine innings (1.2).

- Matt McHale

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Photo, Box

PHOTO LASORDA

BOX: DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (see text)