Spring training scoreboard

New York Mets: Bobby Valentine didn't miss a game because of a trip to a hospital. Al Leiter's injury was less painful, but he'll miss a turn.

	Leiter

Valentine went to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce just after 6 a.m. ET Monday with what was diagnosed as a kidney stone.

The New York Mets manager was given intravenous fluids, passed the stone and made it to work in time for his team's 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Very good -- perfect," Valentine said of his health after the game.

Leiter tweaked a right hip flexor muscle while running Monday and will miss his scheduled appearance Tuesday against Kansas City at Haines City.

"I don't want to pitch him with that," Valentine said of Leiter's injury, which is on his landing leg. "If he's OK, we'll try to get him the work Wednesday."

Pitcher Jeff D'Amico has a strained flexor tendon in his pitching wrist and is day to day.

The often-injured right-hander who was expected to be the Mets' fifth starter left the game against the Braves after one inning Sunday because of a swollen right wrist.

D'Amico, who was pitching in front of 25 friends and family members from the Tampa area, threw four pitches in a 1-2-3 first inning, leaving the mound with no indication he was hurt.

D'Amico said he awoke today feeling discomfort in the wrist, and it continued as he warmed up before the game. He noticed his wrist swell and felt burning when he returned to the dugout after the first inning.

"Another new deal for me," said D'Amico, who has made only 33 starts in the past four seasons because of shoulder injuries, including a nerve problem in his upper right arm that ended his 2001 season after 10 starts. "I'm hoping this is no big deal."

Mets manager Bobby Valentine said he hoped D'Amico could pitch in a game in the next four or five days. If D'Amico is not able to start the season, Bruce Chen will probably take his spot.

San Francisco Giants: Pitcher Jason Schmidt was scratched from his first start of spring training because of tightness in his right groin Monday.

Schmidt was warming up in the bullpen to face the Chicago Cubs when he had trouble getting loose. The Giants said the problem has been bothering him for a bit.

Schmidt has pitched only once this spring, throwing two scoreless innings against Anaheim last Tuesday.

Ryan Jensen started against the Cubs in Schmidt's place.

Schmidt was traded from Pittsburgh to the Giants last July 30 and went 7-1 for San Francisco. He was 13-7 with a 4.07 ERA overall.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers sent six pitchers to minor-league camp Monday, reducing their spring training roster to 57 players.

Sent down were right-handers Joaquin Benoit, Jovanny Cedeno, Ryan Dittfurth, Justin Duchscherer and Travis Hughes and left-hander Andy Pratt. The Rangers still have 28 pitchers in camp.

Also Monday, Juan Gonzalez returned from Puerto Rico after having his wisdom teeth pulled. He was experiencing some pain and didn't accompany the team to Fort Myers for a game against Boston.

Right-handed pitcher Jeff Zimmerman felt improvement in his tender right elbow and is expected to be sidelined a few more games.

Outfielder Rusty Greer, sidelined with a strained right hip flexor, did some running but missed his fifth straight game.

Infielder Herbert Perry was scratched for the second straight game with a strained left groin.

Montreal Expos: Javier Vazquez wasn't quite his usual fearless self last weekend in his first spring at-bat. Last Sept. 17, a Ryan Dempster fastball broke Vazquez's right eye socket and ended his season.

	Vazquez

"I felt like my head was going to explode," Vazquez recalled, describing the impact of the pitch that struck him directly on the front of his helmet. "I was scared, and I thank God that He was with me that day and nothing happened, but it was scary."

His season over, Vazquez finished 16-11 with a 3.42 ERA, losing a shot at becoming just the second Expos pitcher -- after Ross Grimsley in 1978 -- to win 20 games.

After going 5-9 with a 4.96 ERA through his first 16 starts, Vazquez went 11-2 with a 2.14 ERA, winning six straight starts before the beaning. But for now, he thinks about Opening Day against Florida, when he's likely to face Dempster.

"I really want to stay healthy," Vazquez said. "If I stay healthy, I can throw 200 innings. When you prepare yourself properly and you're healthy, you're going to have good numbers so, hopefully, that's what happens."

St. Louis Cardinals: Second baseman Fernando Vina hit .300 and won a Gold Glove last season, and there's no debate for him which he considers more important: He'll take the fielding honor any day.

	Vina

"I'll tell you what, winning a Gold Glove is the ultimate for myself," Vina said. "I've hit .300 three or four times, and it's special because it's a long grind. But to win a Gold Glove and to play at that level all year long and for the managers to acknowledge that is something special."

Vina has sought the fielding award since coming to the Cardinals in 2000, even to the point of campaigning in a low-key manner. He led the NL in fielding percentage (.987), total chances (705) and double plays (100) last year.

But Vina knows he'll have to work hard to get another one. The NL already had several accomplished second basemen before the Mets acquired Roberto Alomar, who has won 12 straight AL Gold Gloves.

"You've still got to go out and work," Vina said. "They're not just going to hand it to you, so I'll keep going about my business."