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First Things First (Under the Lights) for Garciaparra

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Times Staff Writer

The education of Nomar Garciaparra, Dodger first baseman, began at dusk Wednesday, on the right side of the Dodger Stadium infield.

Two weeks from the start of spring training in Vero Beach, Garciaparra, in full uniform, took grounders and popups from coach Eddie Murray for about 90 minutes under the lights.

Tour groups filed past, and sponsors assembled for a stadium event, and Garciaparra familiarized himself with a first baseman’s mitt. He had explained to Dodger executives that he’d hoped to get a feel for Dodger Stadium at night before the start of the regular season.

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In 10 major league seasons, Garciaparra has played 1,085 games, none of them at first base. But, the Dodgers needed a first baseman and a middle-of-the-order bat, and Garciaparra needed a job, so he volunteered to move across the diamond or, if necessary, to left field. He also is expected to play first base for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Garciaparra contacted Murray, the team’s hitting coach and a three-time Gold Glove winner at first base, on his own, and the two scheduled Wednesday night’s workout.

“It tells you who he is, what he is,” General Manager Ned Colletti said. “This is a professional.”

Garciaparra will report to spring training Feb. 15 with the pitchers and catchers, according to Colletti, also at his own request.

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Los Angeles Police Department detectives interviewed Dodger front-office employees Wednesday regarding the disappearance of a secret proposal to build a football stadium in the Dodger Stadium parking lot and draw an NFL team, according to team spokeswoman Camille Johnston.

Owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, were among those interviewed.

The Dodgers filed a police report with the LAPD after the Boston Herald reported details of the documents, including two meetings between NFL and Dodger officials, which the paper said it received anonymously. Frank McCourt discovered the documents missing in early December, three weeks before they became public, Johnston said at the time of the report.

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