BOSTON CONSIDERING SUPPAN AS RELIEVER.

Byline: Nick Cafardo Boston Globe

Pitchers were running laps around the practice field at City of Palms Park and 34-year-old Mike Maddux was far ahead of 21-year-old Jeff Suppan.

"Come on, Suppanzz!" yelled catcher Bill Haselman. "Are you going to let a 34-year-old pitcher beat you?"

Suppan grinned and picked up the pace. He never caught up to Maddux but did pour it on.

Suppan is pouring it on in more ways than one. He has suddenly thrust himself into position to make the 11-man pitching staff of the Boston Red Sox, which starts the season April 1 at Arlington, Texas.

Manager Kevin Kennedy is considering it strongly, to the point where he might carry only one left-hander in the bullpen just to keep Suppan, a 1993 graduate of Crespi High in Encino. In his first five spring-training appearances, Suppan allowed no earned runs in eight innings.

The brass discussed this topic over the winter. They decided the kid pitcher would be given every shot to make it as a middle reliever and eventually move into the rotation, much as the Dodgers did with young Orel Hershiser.

"I'm not even gonna think about it," said Suppan. "I can't put that stuff in my head. I'm just trying to pitch as best I can and work on the things that Nip (pitching coach Al Nipper) and Kevin Kennedy want me to work on. I want to improve and keep getting closer to the big leagues."

What's best for him? Going back to Triple-A and being a starter?

"No way!" Suppan said. "Once you get a taste of it up here, you want to stay. But I think it's important that once you make it, you never go back. I want to get to the point where I never have to go back."

One thing is clear, however. Suppan has Atlantic-cold water in his veins. It was evident when he walked into a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning with one out in a 6-6 game against the Cleveland Indians in September and induced Albert Belle to hit a double-play grounder. It was reaffirmed earlier two weeks ago against the Twins, when he had the bases loaded and one out but notched two strikeouts - against Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova and Dave Hollins - and left the mound as if he'd done nothing.

"They've been testing me in those situations," said Suppan. "To be successful like that means I'm learning to do the job they expect of me. Pitching relief like that is interesting, but I'd much rather create my own jam and then work out of it than come in and try to work out of someone else's problem. But that's the nature of what they want me to do. And I think I'll be a better pitcher for it."

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Photo Jeff Suppan The Boston pitcher allowed no earned runs in his first five spring-training appearances.