DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE TO MISS AT LEAST A WEEK.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - In his annual address to the team's first full-squad gathering of spring training, Dodgers manager Jim Tracy spoke of the importance of fighting through adversity, something he said all teams face during a long season.

Tracy had no idea how quickly that adversity would come.

Closer Eric Gagne, who converted 152 of 158 save opportunities over the past two seasons and captured a National League Cy Young Award in 2003, will be out of action for at least a week after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a fielding drill. Gagne is scheduled to have an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury.

``It makes you take a deep breath,'' Tracy said. ``He's a pretty important piece.''

Gagne said he planted his left foot and felt a pop, but didn't experience any pain. He was able to walk normally off the field and into the clubhouse, where he was examined by orthopedist Dr. David Shaefer. The injury doesn't appear to be serious, but as trainer Stan Johnston pointed out, any injury is more serious than not getting hurt at all.

``To tell you the truth, it's going to take six weeks before he's healed and ready to go 100 percent,'' Johnston said. ``But he's looking at maybe a week of limited activity. (Gagne) has something every year in spring training. But there is no swelling. It could just be a piece of scar tissue from an old injury.''

Johnston was quick to add that the MRI is only a precaution. If the results show no significant damage, Gagne might be able to resume regular activities, including pitching in Grapefruit League games, in about a week.

Gagne, who recently signed a two-year, $19 million contract, downplayed the injury.

``I didn't want to take any chances, so I just shut it down,'' he said. ``But the fact there is no swelling is a good sign.''

Johnston said Gagne should immediately be able to resume cardiovascular exercises.

--More changes: Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who is spending about $20 million this winter on renovations at Dodger Stadium, said there will be more work done on the 43-year-old ballpark in offseasons to come. Although the seating configuration won't change, McCourt said the look of the place might be dramatically different by 2006.

``One thing I would like to do is re-seat the entire stadium,'' said McCourt, whose first Dodgertown visit of the spring lasted roughly 24 hours. ``I can't guarantee it will be done, because a lot of arrangements would have to be made. Fifty-six thousand is a lot of seats to take out, after which we would repair the concrete bowl and replace all the seats, and it would all have to be done between November and March.''

McCourt said he won't change ``the feel or the integrity'' of the stadium, meaning it will maintain its basic design. But he did say the rainbow color scheme could change to ``more of a monolithic, single tone throughout the stadium.''

--Switch back: New third baseman Jose Valentin plans to go back to switch hitting after only batting left-handed with the Chicago White Sox last year. However, Valentin said he might make occasional exceptions against certain left-handed pitchers after swatting seven of his career- high 30 home runs off lefties last year.

``It all depends,'' said Valentin, who admittedly is a better hitter from the left side. ``If it's a lefty who ... throws a lot of soft stuff, I might hit left-handed. It could change from at-bat to at-bat. But I think switch hitting gives me the best chance of playing every day.''

Valentin batted left-handed last year because he primarily was playing only against right-handed pitchers. Despite the seven homers, the 11-year veteran hit just .191 against lefties and is batting 49 points higher (.254) against right-handers for his career.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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Jim Tracy, right, addresses the Dodgers players before a team workout Thursday at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

John SooHoo/Associated Press