McCourt Said to Be Trying to Get Hall to Return

VERO BEACH, Fla. â€”  Derrick Hall, former senior vice president of communications, returned to Dodgertown on Wednesday and met with co-owner Frank McCourt after resigning Saturday.

Hall and McCourt declined comment, but a high-ranking official in the commissioner’s office said McCourt was trying to persuade Hall to remain with the club. Players hope that McCourt succeeds.

“There’s no question,� right fielder Shawn Green said. “Everyone in the clubhouse would like to see him stay.

“He’s the best in the business at what he does and everyone trusts him. He always has the organization’s best interest in mind.�

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David Walkley, vice president of human resources, became the latest executive to prepare to exit Dodger Stadium.

In a letter to McCourt, Walkley revealed his intention to leave because his job duties had changed.

“I have not seen the letter yet, but I am aware of it,� McCourt said. “We will deal with it.�

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The Dodgers have wondered all spring how to get the bat of backup catcher David Ross into the lineup as often as possible, with Paul Lo Duca slated to play some first base and left field on days he does not catch.

But, with first base vacated upon the decision to return Green to right field, the Dodgers have no interest in making Lo Duca the regular first baseman or in training Ross to play there so he and Lo Duca can both play every day.

Ross said he had not played a position besides catcher since 1995, “in an adult league game.� He said he would be willing to try first base.

“They’ve never talked to me about it. I don’t know if that’s good or bad,� he said. “They may know how brutal I am in the field.�

Said Manager Jim Tracy: “You’re talking about putting a guy into a spot he’s not totally comfortable with. You just don’t compromise players like that.�

The members of the Dodger first-base committee could include Robin Ventura, Jolbert Cabrera, Olmedo Saenz, Luis Garcia and Lo Duca. Reserve outfielder Bubba Trammell has never played first base in the majors, but he keeps a first baseman’s glove in his locker and said he would be happy to work out there, an offer Tracy declined.

Trammell hit 25 home runs for the San Diego Padres in 2001, in a career-high 142 games. The only players in the projected opening-day lineup who have hit more than 25 homers in a season are Green and Ventura.

“If I play every day, I’ll hit 25 to 30 home runs,� Trammell said. “I’ll believe that until I stop playing.�

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The Dodgers suffered two split-squad losses, 6-5 to St. Louis and 4-0 to Florida.... Odalis Perez gave up one run in four strong innings against the Cardinals, but Edwin Jackson gave up four hits and five runs (four earned) in three innings.... Hideo Nomo gave up six hits -- four for extra bases -- and three runs in four innings.... Setup man Guillermo Mota (sore triceps muscle) is scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI exam.

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Times staff writer Ross Newhan contributed to this report.