Back at Camden Yards for the first time since being cut loose by the Baltimore Orioles last season, Sidney Ponson showed no love for his former team.

Ponson's contract with the Orioles was terminated by the team in September, one week after his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was signed during the offseason by the St. Louis Cardinals, who released him on July 7.

One week later, Ponson signed with the New York Yankees. So when he arrived in town Friday, the right-hander set up shop in the visiting clubhouse.

"I'm happy I'm not in that clubhouse over there," Ponson said, nodding toward the Orioles' side. "Whatever happened in the past is in the past. I'm with a new team. I'm happy now."

Ponson went 4-4 with a 5.24 E.R.A. in 14 games with St. Louis. He was demoted to the bullpen after two ineffective starts with New York; he's 0-1 with an 8.71 E.R.A. in three appearances.

Although Ponson hasn't displayed the form that enabled him to win 17 games in 2003, he loves his current situation.

"I'd rather be here than anywhere else," he said.

Ponson doesn't care much for the Baltimore front office, but he's maintained contact with some of his friends on the team.

"I talk to (Jeff) Conine once in a while. Talked to him a couple of times, talked to Melvin (Mora) and (Luis) Matos before he left," Ponson said.

ROUNDUP

BRAVES OPTION SHIELL: The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander Jason Shiell to Triple-A Richmond after their 8-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. Shiell pitched three-plus innings for Atlanta in the shortest of his three career starts, all this season. The rookie allowed five hits and a career-high six runs with three walks and two strikeouts against the Reds. He was 0-2 with an 8.62 E.R.A. in four appearances with Atlanta. The Braves will purchase the contract of left-hander Wayne Franklin from Richmond before today's game against Cincinnati.

FLOYD AGGRAVATES TENDON: Left fielder Cliff Floyd left the New York Mets' 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday because of a sore left Achilles' tendon. Floyd aggravated the tendon in the first inning when he unsuccessfully chased Aaron Rowand's foul drive in the left-field corner, and the Mets pinch-hit for Floyd in the bottom of the first. He also was held out of the starting lineup July 30 because of the tendon. Endy Chavez, who replaced Floyd, hit a go-ahead double in the sixth to cap the Mets' comeback from a 3-0 deficit.