Cardinals’ Jordan Sees Need to Rest

Angry and in pain, St. Louis outfielder Brian Jordan will give his aching back another week to heal before he decides whether to sit out the rest of the season.

Jordan played Sunday against the Atlanta Braves after taking treatment for his bulging disk. After returning one week ago from his second trip on the disabled list, Jordan hasn’t been close to his old form. He said the pain is “agonizing.”

“My wife is pounding it in my head day after day [saying], ‘Why are you still playing? You’re just going to hurt yourself and your career,’ ” Jordan said.

Jordan said he was waiting for one of the team’s owners to tell him to stop playing and to come back at full strength next year.

“I’m the one who’s going to make the decision,” Jordan said. “They know I came back just to try to help the team. If nothing changes, there’s no sense in possibly damaging my career.”

Two specialists have told Jordan he needed to sit out for several months to return to health. He has a .238 batting average with no home runs and nine RBIs in 42 games.

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Florida optioned reliever Rob Stanifer to triple-A Charlotte and recalled left-hander Kirt Ojala. Ojala, 28, will make his major-league debut today against Pittsburgh. . . . Montreal pitcher Dave Veres left Sunday’s game against San Francisco in the eighth inning because of tightness in his right shoulder. . . . Houston infielder Bill Spiers, bothered by a sore right elbow, will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.. . . Umpire Greg Bonin’s strike zone was highly unpopular with players during Sunday’s San Diego-Chicago Cubs game, and Padre third baseman Ken Caminiti was ejected by Bonin for arguing after striking out swinging to end the sixth.