The Orioles brought B.J. Surhoff "home" to Baltimore prior to the 2003 season, signing him to a minor league contract.  Surhoff bade farewell to the Baltimore--a place he never wanted to leave--in a tearful farewell late in the 2000 season when he was traded to Atlanta.  Surhoff made the Orioles' roster out of spring training and remained with the team throughout the season.

Surhoff was actually pretty productive for the Orioles in 2003, when he was on the field.  But he wasn't on the field all that much.  The 38-year-old was on the disabled list twice and appeared in barely half the team's games.  After 17 big league seasons, Surhoff has probably reached the point where a full-time job exceeds his physical condition.

At this point in his career, Surhoff probably still holds some value to a team in an off-the-bench role.  He can play the corner outfield positions adequately and can handle first base.  In a pinch, he could probably still fill in at third and in an absolute emergency, behind the plate.  His main value is as a left-handed bat off the bench, someone who remains adept at putting the ball in play.

For the Orioles in 2003, Surhoff's season probably peaked on July 24, just before he was placed on the disabled list for the second time.  He was hitting .337 at the time.  He was activated on Aug. 12 and proceeded to hit .170 with a .235 slugging percentage for the duration of the month.  September was only superficially better (.266/.319/.359).

There won't be a regular position for Surhoff on the Orioles in 2003, barring injury.  Larry Bigbie and (as of this writing, hopefully) Vladimir Guerrero will be holding down the corner outfield positions for the Orioles, with Jay Gibbons at first.  Jack Cust should be the guy at designated hitter, unless the Orioles procure someone with a greater track record.  Surhoff really doesn't have the offensive pop at this point to play any of those positions.  Perhaps the club will ultimately bring him back to hold down a bench role which is, realistically, about all he could expect to receive from the Orioles or any other big league club at this point.

TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTRIBUTE NEXT SEASON HE MUST:

1. Find an employer--the Orioles or someone else.
2. Stay relatively healthy.
3. Accept and adapt to a bench role.

NOTES: Held his own in terms of batting average against LHP (.284 in 74 ABs; .298 vs. RHP in 245 ABs), but absolutely devoid of power against southpaws (two extra base hits, both doubles and ISO of .027 vs. LHP)...had only one HR in 134 ABs on the road...hit .381 in 118 ABs in June-July...struck out 10 times in 54 ABs vs. the Yankees; 19 times in 265 ABs against everyone else...more ABs as a designated hitter than at any other position...hit a remarkable .350 (.483 SLG) in 60 ABs after falling behind in the count 0-2...with runners on base:  .349/.392/.447 in 152 ABs; .246/.319/.365 in 167 ABs with bases empty....353/.406/.471 with runners in scoring position (85 ABs)....431/.484/.517 with runner on base and two outs (58 ABs).

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