Guessing Stops: Lasorda Given One More Year : Baseball: O’Malley puts an end to speculation by granting manager’s wishes and allowing him a 20th season in charge.

Quickly quelling speculation regarding a managerial change, the Dodgers rehired Tom Lasorda for the 1996 season Monday. Lasorda’s coaches were also invited back and are expected to accept.

The new season will be Lasorda’s 20th at the helm. He was summoned to Dodger Stadium Monday afternoon by owner Peter O’Malley, who said a lot of thought was given to the decision during a lengthy morning meeting with vice president Fred Claire.

“You’re always apprehensive,” Lasorda, 68, said of the uncertainty. “You never know what will be said, but we finished first in the division, we were second in attendance and most of all I wanted to come back.

“I feel good physically and mentally. I love what I’m doing. I’ve never lost any enthusiasm and zest. I’ve never thought about retiring. You never know what the decision will be, but I was sitting home, praying.

“I’m happy and appreciative Peter and Fred have asked me to come back and I’m proud they feel I can still do the job and that it’s not just based on longevity.”

Lasorda said the three-game sweep by the Cincinnati Reds in the opening round of the playoffs will provide motivation to improve, but he disputes the contention that the Dodgers underachieved this season.

“We were inconsistent at times because of inexperience, but we were 14 or 15 games above .500 and won the division,” he said. “I don’t think you can call that underachieving. We didn’t play up to our capability in the playoffs, but that happens in the playoff. If we had played up to our capability we would still be playing.”

O’Malley said the organization was “keenly disappointed” by the Reds’ sweep, but that it was another season of bright moments on the field. He cited the MVP-caliber seasons of Eric Karros and Mike Piazza and the emergence of Hideo Nomo, among other highlights, and said, “We don’t replace people as often as other organizations. Continuity and stability are important to us. If you’re going to replace someone, you should have someone you believe can do a better job.”

That is thought to be a major point in the decision to bring Lasorda back. Former catcher Mike Scioscia, an instructor in the organization, is believed to be on a fast track but has no coaching or managerial experience at this point, and the Dodgers remain reluctant to go outside the organization for a managerial replacement.

“There’s a revolving group we’re looking at all the time, but there’s not a designated successor,” O’Malley said.

Asked how long he expects Lasorda to keep managing, O’Malley replied, “That’s hard to say. I can’t say this will be his last year or that he’ll manage three more years. I don’t think anyone knows, including Tommy.”

Lasorda said that 20 years “is a great round number” but that is not to imply 1996 will be his final year. He said he likes the idea of a farewell tour, meaning he would have to know early in a season that it is his last, but he has never discussed it with O’Malley, who was asked about it and said he would be concerned that it might become a distraction to the team.

“We’ve always tried to minimize the distractions,” O’Malley said, adding that Monday’s decision, ending speculation, was an example.