Monday, April 27, 1998 | 9:44 a.m.
Somewhat overlooked during Eddie Williams' assualt on the Las Vegas Stars' record book this past week was the man batting behind him, first baseman Jason Thompson, also had a week to remember.
Try these stats on for size: eight hits in 21 at-bats (.381), six RBIs, three doubles and a game-winning three-run homer Saturday night against Memphis at Cashman Field.
But to hear Thompson and Las Vegas manager Jerry Royster tell it, the 6-4, 200-pounder from the University of Arizona is capable of even bigger numbers down the road.
"He's actually struggling through some stuff right now," Royster said following the Stars' 5-4 loss to Memphis on Sunday afternoon at Cashman Field. "But while he's been struggling, he's adjusted and is doing what he needs to do to still get the job done."
"I've taken one good swing and I happened to hit a home run," Thompson, who has a .283 average, said. "I've gotten some other hits, but I don't think I'm swinging the bat any better than when I was making outs earlier in the year. The hits just happen to be falling now."
Sunday was a good example. Thompson was 1-for-3 with a walk, but his ninth inning leadoff single was a blooper that fell in front of Redbirds center fielder Wayne Kirby.
Still, it looks like a line drive in the box score, right?
"I'll take my jam shots," Thompson said. "Today I got jammed three times."
That's progress, however. Under Royster's guidance, Thompson changed his batting style recently.
"I'm using a no stride stance now," Thompson said. "I had a terrible spring. I was pulling off a lot of balls. It's a good adjustment to make. Now I'm not pulling off the ball and I'll take those jam shots.
"Jerry and I have been together for three years," Thompson continued. "He knows me better than anybody. I trust what he says. And he's always wanted me to spread out my stance more when I'm going bad. Between the two of us I'm sure we'll figure something out."
"Maybe it was his trip to Japan (for the 1997 season), but Jason is so much more mature and mentally into the game now than he was his first time here," Royster said, referring to Thompson's 21-homer season with the Stars in 1996 when he also hit .300.
Thompson agrees.
"I think I have matured a little bit as a person and as a hitter," he said. "Sometimes I get a little too intense up there. Now I'm just working on being more consistent day-in and day-out."
Besides the new stance, both Thompson and Royster agree there's another reason for Jason's glossy stats of the past week ... Eddie Williams.
"Eddie's performance wears off on everybody else," Royster said of the Stars' slugger, who belted four home runs in a single game at Calgary last Wednesday.
"I agree," Thompson said. "I think the whole team is swinging the bats real well right now because in part Eddie is swinging his bat so well. I think hitting is contagious. No doubt. You see one guy getting hits and then others start getting them, too. That's the way it goes in this game."
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