BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: DEION'S BACK WITH A BANG.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Deion Sanders talked very little about his future as a football player, which is in question because of his return to baseball. Instead, he spoke of playing baseball, a sport he treated as second class during his days starring in the National Football League.

Baseball was viewed as a hobby for Sanders, 33, who returned to the major leagues Tuesday for the first time since Sept. 4, 1997. He was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds, started in left field and batted second against the Dodgers.

``Baseball, there's so much left, so much to do, so much to accomplish,'' said Sanders, who batted .459 with Triple-A Louisville. ``It's a tremendous challenge. I wanted earn my way back. I don't think it was given to me. I think I earned my way back, and that was very important to me.''

Sanders singled to center field on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Eric Gagne. He homered on the second pitch, a three-run shot in the second inning.

But there is no guarantee when he'll see his last pitch of the season, be it August, September or October.

``My opinion is he's going to play baseball throughout the year,'' Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. ``We would not have signed him if I felt he would leave us. I believe he'll finish the baseball season with us.''

Sanders, who signed a seven-year, $56 million contract to play cornerback for the Washington Redskins last year, didn't want to talk about football, a sport in which he's accomplished so much.

However, the length of this stay by Sanders is the question. He admitted to fulfilling career goals in football, but not baseball. In parts of eight major-league seasons spanning four organizations and 609 games, Sanders is a .266 hitter with 38 homers and 164 RBI. He also has 183 stolen bases.

``I think I need to work on everything and I think I will work on everything - live, in front of thousands of people,'' Sanders said. ``I think I've been successful. I haven't attained the type of success I know that's inside of me.''

-Brian Dohn

--Cirillo on DL: Colorado Rockies third baseman Jeff Cirillo was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured rib cage.

Cirillo, from Providence High of Burbank and USC, is batting .295 with five homers and 18 RBI. The move is retroactive to April 27.

--Padres activate Kotsay: The San Diego Padres activated outfielder Mark Kotsay from the 15-day disabled list.

Kotsay was placed on the DL on April 16 after straining his left quadriceps. He was acquired late in spring training from the Florida Marlins and hit .139 in 36 at-bats, with one hit in his last 18 at-bats, before getting injured.

Kotsay has had 53 outfield assists from 1998 to 2000, tops in the majors. He hit a career-high .298 with 12 homers and 19 stolen bases last year for Florida.

--Rodriguez, Caminiti return: All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who missed two games with a bruised left heel, and third baseman Ken Caminiti were back in the starting lineup for Texas for the opener of a three-game series against Detroit.

--Gordon rejoins Cubs: Reliever Tom Gordon was activated by Chicago Cubs, who optioned rookie relief pitcher Courtney Duncan to Triple-A Iowa.

Gordon, 33, was signed as a free agent Dec. 14 to be the Cubs' closer, but instead was placed on the disabled list in spring training after straining his right triceps while lifting weights. His replacement, Jeff Fassero, has nine saves in 11 chances.

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DEION SANDERS

``There's so much left, so much to do, so much to accomplish,'' he said