01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, June 8, 2006

Barry Bonds tweaked his left side during last weekend's series in New York, though the San Francisco slugger initially tried to play through it.

The injury has become worse in recent days, and Bonds grimaced after a swing during Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Florida Marlins.

He already was scheduled for a day off yesterday for the finale of a three-game series with the Marlins, but now his status for a four-game series against his former club -- the Pittsburgh Pirates -- starting tonight is in question.

Bonds was examined by team doctors Robert Murray and Ken Akizuki late Tuesday, and trainer Stan Conte listed the slugger as day to day.

"I hope this is not a serious problem," Giants manager Felipe Alou said.

Bonds went 0-for-4 with a strikeout one night after hitting his 716th career home run to move within 40 of passing home run king Hank Aaron's 755.

"I don't know yet," Bonds said when asked about the severity of his injury. "I was hurt from the second inning (Tuesday). I played because I didn't want to come out. . . . I'm only concerned if somebody's putting me in a coffin."

Bonds, who turns 42 on July 24, said he didn't tell the team's training staff about his sore side until yesterday morning when he arrived at the ballpark -- so he wasn't sure how the injury would be treated.

ROUNDUP

KIM CLEARS WAIVERS: Right-hander Sun-Woo Kim and infielder Jason Smith cleared waivers yesterday and have until tomorrow to accept their assignments to Colorado's Triple-A club or declare themselves free agents. Kim and Smith were designated for assignment on Saturday. Kim was 0-0 with a 19.29 E.R.A. in six relief appearances for the Rockies, who tried to trade him but found no takers. Smith hit .267 with three homers and 10 RBI in 32 games for Colorado. All three of his home runs and seven of his RBI came in a three-game series at San Diego April 7-9.

NATS HIRE JOHNSON: The Washington Nationals hired former major-league manager and player Davey Johnson yesterday as a special consultant to general manager Jim Bowden. The 63-year-old Johnson will contribute to player personnel matters, including the evaluation and scouting of major- and minor-league players, the team said. Johnson managed for 14 seasons in the majors with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. He led the Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 and a division title in 1988.

ANOTHER DAY OFF: The St. Louis Cardinals put struggling closer Jason Isringhausen, who has blown two of his last three save opportunities, on the do-not-pitch list for the second straight day yesterday. Isringhausen, manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan all characterized the days off as a mental break. Isringhausen was tied for the N.L. lead with 18 saves, but his four blown saves equaled last season's total.

O'S SHUFFLE STAFF: The Baltimore Orioles shuffled their coaching staff yesterday, replacing first base coach Dave Cash with Rick Dempsey, whose job as bullpen coach was filled by minor-league pitching coach Larry McCall. Cash, who was reassigned, told the team he would need some time to decide whether to stay with the organization. Cash joined the Orioles' major-league club as first base coach last August after Sam Perlozzo took over for Lee Mazzilli. He is in his 10th season in the organization, spending 8 1/2 years as a minor-league manager and coach. McCall is in his 17th season in the Orioles' organization. He has served as pitching coach for nine teams in the Orioles farm system, most recently at Triple-A Ottawa.

FOSSUM ACTIVATED: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays activated left-hander Casey Fossum from the 15-day disabled list and optioned pitcher Doug Waechter to Triple-A Durham yesterday.

POLITTE ON DL: The Chicago White Sox put reliever Cliff Politte on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a sore right shoulder and called up right-hander Sean Tracey from Triple-A Charlotte.