BASEBALL / JEFF FLETCHER : Detroit: Tackett’s Destiny?

Jeff Tackett should have figured that, somehow, he would end up wearing a Detroit Tiger uniform.

Tackett, a Camarillo High graduate, played 11 seasons in the Baltimore Oriole organization, including the past three as a major league backup catcher. But the landmarks in his career always seemed to involve the Tigers, so when Detroit signed him as a free agent this spring, it wasn’t so surprising.

Tackett’s first major league hit, first major league home run, only major league pitching appearance, first appearance at a position other than catcher and only role in a major motion picture all came against the Tigers.

He also ran across Sparky Anderson’s golf ball on a fairway in Thousand Oaks.

“There’s a lot of funny stories,” Tackett said. “Everything keeps reverting back to Detroit.”

The best story, as far as Tackett is concerned, though, is that the 29-year-old catcher has a legitimate shot to be a No. 1 major league catcher for the first time.

After backing up Chris Hoiles in Baltimore, Tackett is one of four catchers in camp competing for the Tigers’ catching job. The others are journeymen Terry McGriff, Ron Tingley and John Flaherty. Detroit lost All-Star catcher Mickey Tettleton to free agency.

Tackett, who hit .219 in 131 games over the past three seasons in Baltimore, was hitting .222 in six exhibition games with the Tigers.

“I’m very happy to have a change of scenery,” Tackett said. “When you have a catcher like Chris Hoiles in front of you, it is kind of hard. I’m very excited to come over here to this organization and have a chance to make this club and be a starter. If I’m not a starter, with Sparky managing, he uses his bench real well, so I know I will definitely get some at-bats and playing time.”

Tackett had introduced himself to Anderson before showing up in the Tiger clubhouse this month.

During the off-season in 1991, Tackett was home in Ventura County working as a cement finisher. He was laying concrete by the Sunset Hills Country Club in Thousand Oaks one afternoon when a ball came rolling by and he noticed a white-haired man walking after it.

“I said to myself ‘That’s Sparky Anderson,’ and I went right up to him and introduced myself,” Tackett said. “I said, ‘My name’s Jeff Tackett and I’m a triple-A ballplayer and you are definitely going to see me in the majors this year.’ ”

Tackett was correct. He made the majors late in 1991. And Anderson, who lives in Thousand Oaks, would be on hand for other highlights and memorable moments in Tackett’s career.

Besides ordinary milestones such as his first hit and first home run, Tackett pitched the only inning of his career in a mop-up role in Tiger Stadium. And he made his debut at third base against the Tigers.

Tackett also had a cameo in the film “Dave . “ Actor Kevin Kline, playing the President, was throwing out the first pitch at an Oriole game and Tackett was the catcher.

Guess who the Orioles were playing the day of the filming?

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Jeff Suppan’s pitching progress with the Boston Red Sox hit a snag this spring when the former Crespi standout was sent back to Fort Myers, Fla., from double-A Trenton, N.J., because of a groin pull.

But for Suppan, leaving 30-degree Trenton for 80-degree Florida and hanging out with Roger Clemens in the major league camp wasn’t such a bad thing.

“I’ve met a few players, but hanging out with (Clemens) is just like . . . he’s The Man,” Suppan said. “You meet him and see his work ethic and it’s amazing. You just see him with the reporters and stuff. It’s amazing people give him so much respect.”

As for Suppan, 20, considered one of the Red Sox’s top pitching prospects, he said his groin feels better now and he’s been throwing every day in Florida. Ed Kenney, Red Sox director of player development, said the team is trying to be cautious with Suppan and they won’t send him back to Trenton until early May, when the weather is warmer.

“We are probably being a little overcautious with Jeff and making sure that he will be healthy and it’s not something that lingers,” Kenney said.

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Brad Fullmer made his much-awaited minor-league debut this month, and he has proved to be worth the wait for the Montreal Expos so far. Fullmer, who signed out of Montclair Prep late in 1993 and was injured throughout all of 1994, hit safely in his first seven games at Class-A Albany, Ga. Through Thursday’s game, he was batting .302 with no home runs and seven runs batted in in 53 at-bats.

“Swinging the bat is something that he is just gifted with and it’s not our major concern,” said Bill Geivette, the Expos’ director of player development. “The biggest concern we have for Brad is his shoulder and ability to throw the baseball.”

The Expos are handling Fullmer’s shoulder delicately. He has not played a game on defense this season. Geivette said Fullmer is on a throwing program and they hope soon to have him ready to play first base, and eventually third.

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Apparently outfielder Jacob Cruz wasn’t set back by an elbow injury that limited him to only 31 Class-A games in his first season of pro baseball last year.

The San Francisco Giants moved the center fielder from Arizona State and Channel Islands High up to double-A Shreveport, La., this season and he’s gotten off to a blazing start, hitting .420 with two home runs and nine RBIs through the first 14 games.

“When you’re going good,” Cruz said, “it seems (easy).”

Cruz, a supplemental first-round pick, said his elbow is pain-free and he’s having no problems adjusting to double A. Or to Shreveport.

“It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be,” he said. “The food is something I’m adjusting to. I’ve never heard of Cajun stuff until now.”

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Short hops: Craig Clayton (Cal State Northridge), who had a shot last spring at making the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen, is in the starting rotation this season at Class-A Riverside. Larry Beinfest, Mariner assistant director of player development, said it does not necessarily reflect a change in the way the organization sees Clayton’s future but simply a way to guarantee him more innings.

Clayton was moved from third base to pitcher before the 1994 season, which he started at double-A Jacksonville, Fla. But he twice went on the disabled list with tendinitis and finished the year in Riverside.

Through his first three starts, Clayton was 1-0 with a 3.60 earned-run average. . . .

Jeff Cirillo (Providence) has made the Milwaukee Brewers’ opening-day roster as a utility infielder, a club spokesman said Friday. Cirillo, who hit .238 in 39 major league games last season, had six hits in 15 at-bats in exhibition games, including two home runs and seven RBIs.

His roster spot was sealed, though, when first baseman Dave Nilsson had to be placed on the disabled list.