BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Some History Between Lasorda, New Pitcher

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda hugged pitcher Willie Banks the moment he saw him in the clubhouse Tuesday, and promptly said: “Well, you’re not going to be beating us now.”

Banks, who met Lasorda eight years ago at an awards banquet, still remembers Lasorda telling him that day: “Son, good luck, but you’re never going to beat the Dodgers.”

Banks, traded from the Cubs to the Dodgers on Tuesday night, confessed that he used Lasorda’s words for motivation when he shut out the Dodgers last season. He also never envisioned playing for the Dodgers.

“I’m not too much of a California guy,” said Banks, born and raised in Jersey City, N.J. “When I played in the California League, I told my mom I would never play in California.

“So when I got traded last night, my mom says, ‘What do you think about that?’ I said, ‘I should have kept my mouth shut.’ ”

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Yankee Manager Buck Showalter telephoned Lasorda and offered a trade proposal.

“I’ve got a left-handed power-hitting outfielder you can have,” Showalter said, “if you give me [Raul] Mondesi.’ His name is Darryl Strawberry.’ ”

Once Lasorda stopped laughing, Showalter asked Lasorda if he had any advice.

Lasorda: “Yeah, be ready.”

Showalter: “Be ready for what?”

Lasorda: “Be ready for more distractions than you ever imagined.”

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Dodger catcher Mike Piazza left the Cardinals’ mouths agape during batting practice when he hit a homer that bounced off the facing on the third deck, above the center field scoreboard. “My God,” Cardinal outfielder Darnell Coles said. “Did you see that? I’ve never seen a ball hit that far.” It was estimated at about 500 feet.