Vina lets his bat do the talking in contract discussion

JUPITER, Fla. -- Fernando Vina's salary drive has already begun.

The Cardinals have a $4 million option for next year on their leadoff hitter, and they're in no hurry to pick it up. Vina was criticized for a poor on-base percentage (.333) last year, the team shopped him during the offseason, and he and manager Tony La Russa exchanged barbs.

This spring, Vina has been at his best. He was batting a team-best .429 after getting two hits Wednesday against the Mets in a 14-12 loss, and he's also acting more like a leadoff hitter by taking more pitches. The last five games, he's totaled nine hits.

"Since the day I got here, they know I'm not messing around," Vina said. "I think they've gotten the picture."

La Russa has been complimentary of Vina's approach.

"He came in with a good idea, and he's working on it," La Russa said. "He's got a real good stroke going, and he's a guy that if he gets going he stays on it."

Playing hard is Vina's way of blocking out the distractions, like where he'll be playing next season.

"You know what, it's out of my control," he said. "I'm going to do what I can to help my team win, and the rest will take care of itself.

"You never know what's going to happen, just like this winter I didn't know what was going to happen."

Vina, 33, said there has been no discussion of an extension.

"You would think there would be," he said. "If it doesn't happen, I'll take my show somewhere else and play hard."

Far from being embittered by the experience of hearing his name come up in trade discussions, Vina is helping keep the mood light this spring. His uncle, Gilbert San Juan, 46, has become something of a team mascot, dressing in full uniform, participating in drills and exchanging frequent barbs with teammates.

A few days ago, Mike Matheny and Woody Williams conspired to tie San Juan to a chair with duct tape. After the victim was moved outside, reliever Steve Kline slathered peanut butter on San Juan's bald head and called for birds to peck away.

"I bring him with me every spring training, and you can't imagine how loose he keeps everybody," Vina said. "He's got that personality where everybody clings to him."

Ankiel pays for rough outing in loss

The Mets had 18 hits and gave up 18 Wednesday as the Cardinals' Rick Ankiel had a wild outing.

Mike Matheny, Tino Martinez and Miguel Cairo homered for the Cardinals, while Ty Wigginton, Roberto Alomar and Vance Wilson connected for the Mets. Wilson hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth.

Ankiel, still trying to come back from record wildness during the 2000 playoffs, threw 15 pitches in the seventh. He threw one to the backstop, gave up Alomar's homer, then nearly hit Cliff Floyd and Mike Piazza before walking both of them. Ankiel didn't get any outs, and was charged with three runs.

St. Louis built a 7-2 lead off Jason Middlebrook, who gave up four runs in the fifth inning, including a triple to Albert Pujols and the Martinez homer.

Noteworthy

SS Edgar Renteria was removed from the game after doubling in the third due to illness. He walked off the field, accompanied by trainer Barry Weinberg. He had been feeling under the weather prior to the game.

CF Jim Edmonds, recovering from a calf injury, took swings for the first time on Wednesday. He could get in a game in the final week of spring training. "We're optimistic he'll play a game before opening day," trainer Barry Weinberg said.

RHP Jason Simontacchi allowed one unearned run in five innings in an intersquad game Wednesday morning. Simontacchi, who missed his regular turn because Tuesday was the team's only day off of the spring, allowed only two hits. He was pitching mostly to Cardinals minor leaguers.