Karros’ Injury Alarming, but Is Just Ankle Bruise

Eric Karros fouled a pitch off the inside of his left ankle Tuesday and though the Dodger first baseman had to be helped off the field, X-rays came back negative.

“It’s one of the better ones I’ve had,” Karros said before being taken to the St. Mary’s Professional Building for examination by Dr. Frank Cook. “It’s the only time I’ve come off the field [because of an injury], put it that way. Ever.”

Karros was driven back to Dodgertown in Vero Beach after the Dodgers’ 4-3 Grapefruit League victory in 10 innings over the Montreal Expos.

“I’m happy it was just a bruise,” Karros said. “I should be back in a few days.”

General Manager Kevin Malone said he got an upset stomach, seeing that Karros couldn’t get up after banging Felipe Lira’s pitch off his ankle.

“If he can’t get up, I know he’s in serious pain because I know how tough he is,” Malone said. “We’re fortunate.

“We dodged another bullet, first with [Gary] Sheffield with the stitches [in his little finger] and now with this.”

Malone expects Karros to be at full strength Monday for opening day at Montreal.

Karros signed a three-year, $24-million contract at the start of spring training that could be worth $32 million for four years.

The injury occurred just after right-fielder Shawn Green hit his second solo home run of the day, his team-leading fifth of the spring.

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Don Logan, president and general manager of the Las Vegas Stars, came out of Monday’s six-team meeting in Las Vegas relieved that major league clubs are apparently sincere in their interest in southern Nevada as a possible spring training site.

“It was a very productive first step,” said Logan, who was worried that teams were merely using the gambling capital as a bargaining chip.

The Dodgers headlined the meeting and were joined by representatives of the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, rather than the Cleveland Indians as previously thought. The Dodger contingent was headed by Sam Fernandez, senior vice president and general counsel.

“The first thing we have to do is come to an accord with teams and make sure that what works for them is what works for us,” Logan said. “The next phase is to find out about things like sites and where the money is going to come from.”

Industry sources say that it would take at least four teams, with the Dodgers as the main attraction, to make a deal work in Las Vegas.

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In putting right-handed pitcher Kris Foster on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers made room for non-roster catcher Chad Kreuter. More roster moves--such as catcher Paul LoDuca, the Dodgers’ leading hitter this spring with a .375 average, being sent to triple-A Albuquerque--will be announced before the game today in Orlando against the Braves. Kevin Brown will throw for the Dodgers, Greg Maddux for Atlanta.