Garciaparra went to work and impressed Dodger GM
NEW YORK -- Nomar Garciaparra, the Los Angeles version? Let Ned Colletti, the first-year general manager of the Dodgers, tell you about that Nomar.
``I love the guy," Colletti said. ``I've got huge affection for the man, for who he is, for what he's done, the way he came in this year. I've heard the sales pitch 50 other times, and his was the first one that really rang as true as what I heard."
The pitch he heard from Garciaparra, when he was a free agent looking for a new landing place after playing for the Chicago Cubs since his trade July 31, 2004, from the Red Sox?
``He said, `I want to be back to where I was a few years ago,' " Colletti said. `` `I want to play every day. I want to win. I love the idea of playing back home. If you want me to play first base, I'll work my butt off to become a good first baseman. I want this franchise to be great, and I want to do everything I can to make it so.'
``I've heard that before, but rarely have I seen someone who did it. He came out in January and worked out on his own at Dodger Stadium with Eddie Murray. In February, he showed up in spring training with the pitchers and catchers and turned down a chance to play in the [World Baseball Classic] for Team Mexico because he needed more work at first base. And he did it. He worked out every day."
Garciaparra, who hit just .229 after the All-Star break but finished the season with a .303 average, 20 home runs, and 93 RBIs, is scheduled to play tonight even though he has a sore left quadriceps and last week strained a side muscle. Garciaparra took batting practice yesterday and pronounced himself good to go.
