February 13, 2003 [LINK]

B.J. back in "Balmer"

Veteran outfielder B.J. Surhoff (age 38) just signed a one-year contract with his former team, the Orioles, meaning that he will probably get to end his career back home in Baltimore. That's a very fitting tribute for a great player. He signed with the Braves last year but missed most of the season after injuring his knee in a collision with the wall while chasing a fly ball in the right field corner. (I remember seeing that on live television, and it still makes me cringe.)

Yankee fans are curious how newly acquired outfielder Hideki Matsui (known in Japan as "Godzilla") will do after he dons the Bronx pinstripes. He hit 50 home runs for the Yomiuri Giants last year... The Yanks also picked up first baseman Todd Zeile from the Colorado Rockies, whose owners seem reluctant to make much of a competitive effort after getting burned on a lucrative deal with pitcher Mike Hampton two years ago. Games in the first two years at Coors Field were usually sold out, but attendance has declined sharply in recent years. See the MLB Web site for details on player transactions.