J.T.

Snow

Snow has missed five starts with a left elbow infection.

Marquis Grissom ($2.75 million) and Jason Christiansen ($3.25 million) might not be so lucky. If Snow returns, the Giants will give a lot of thought to making Pedro Feliz their full-time shortstop in 2005.

He is being treated with antibiotics but should be able to play tomorrow night. Even if healthy, Snow would likely not have been in the Giants’ lineup tonight against LHP Dontrelle Willis.

Snow has 11 games left this month to challenge his personal best of 28 RBI in any month. Selling high will be tough since there aren’t a lot of Snow fans in fantasy circles, so you might as well ride him while he’s hot.

Snow has 21 RBI out of the spot, so it’s not like hitting that low is hurting him as long as the guys in front of him keep getting on base. Snow is expected to be back in the lineup tonight; he had missed some time with a bruised left knee.

Alou wants a set lineup and is likely to go with: 2B Ray Durham, SS Omar Vizquel, 1B Snow/Feliz, LF Barry Bonds, RF Moises Alou, 3B Edgardo Alfonzo, CF Marquis Grissom and C Mike Matheny. The idea that Bonds should be batting fourth still isn’t a very good one, but there’s nothing else wrong with that setup.

Snow’s already had two stints on the DL this season because of strained left groin. He’s day-to-day.

Trainer Stan Conte said Snow could play if the team were fighting for the playoffs. With the division clinched, he’ll rest as much as possible.

It doesn’t appear that the Giants are trying to re-sign Snow, Rich Aurilia or Sidney Ponson before the arbitration deadline. Snow is the only one of the three guaranteed not to be offered arbitration, but the Giants may also choose to let Aurilia and Ponson go. Instead of re-signing Snow, the Giants reportedly have some interest in signing Todd Walker to play first -- one of the few alternatives that actually makes Snow look like a quality choice.

The Pirates, Rangers, Mets and perhaps the Yankees are believed to have some interest in Snow. He won’t be offered arbitration, so he’ll have to decide on San Francisco’s proposal this weekend.