DODGERS NOTEBOOK : LASORDA FEELS HE COULD RETURN `NOW'.

On the advice of his physicians, Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda was a no-show Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Instead, Lasorda watched Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies at his Fullerton home, with orders to get more rest.

Lasorda, however, seemed to be improving. Reached by telephone, Lasorda said, ``I could come out there right now. I could put on my uniform, sit in that dugout and manage that team - right now.''

Doctors Tony Reid, Lasorda's cardiologist, and Michael Mellman, the club physician, apparently hold another opinion. They told Lasorda on Thursday that even a casual visit to the ballpark, where he had been invited by Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley for the game, would be too strenuous.

``I had planned to come out,'' said Lasorda, who added that he walked 2-1/2 miles Thursday. ``The cardiologist and Dr. Mellman said, `No way.' ''

Lasorda underwent an angioplasty on June 26, after suffering a heart attack. A follow-up examination scheduled for today was moved back to Monday. Lasorda has missed 10 games, and still has no idea when he might return, either as a visitor or as the manager.

``We'll wait and see,'' he said.

In the meantime, Lasorda is getting work. Fox Sports is planning to broadcast live from Lasorda's home on Saturday, during the Dodgers-Rockies game.

Add Lasorda: Lasorda said Wednesday that he was very disappointed that he must miss next week's All-Star Game, for which he was chosen by manager Bobby Cox to serve on the National League's coaching staff. Lasorda was raised in Norristown, Pa., not far from Philadelphia. And, of course, not far from Mike Piazza's hometown.

Piazza was the league's top vote-getter, and will start at catcher at Veterans Stadium. Lasorda said it hurt that he won't be there with Piazza. It's mutual.

``That would have been kind of neat, sure,'' Piazza said Thursday. ``But, obviously, his health is more important. It's good that he's taking the time to make sure he feels better. It's a disappointment that he can't go.''

As a boy, Piazza often served as Lasorda's bat boy when the Dodgers came to Veterans Stadium.

``I'll always remember those things,'' Piazza said. ``I'm very sad he can't go. My first memories of baseball were of going to the Vet.''

The minor leagues: Paul Konerko, the Dodgers' first pick in the 1994 free agent draft, was named the Texas League player of the week for the second time in the past three weeks. A first baseman for Double-A San Antonio, Konerko batted .345 with six home runs and 10 RBI in the week that ended Sunday (June 30).