Carrying high expectations and preseason accolades, UCLA first
baseman Wes Whisler has struggled this season and was demoted last
weekend to seventh in the batting order. The change appears to have
worked in the short run, as Whisler went 4-for-11 with four RBI in
UCLA’s three games in Arizona. However, the second-team
preseason All-American has been disappointing overall through 28
games. “He might be pressing a bit,” coach Gary Adams
said. After a stellar freshman year and solid second season,
Whisler’s average and power numbers have faltered. He has hit
just .264 this season with two home runs from the third and fourth
spots in the lineup. Compare this to .328 and 18 homers in his
first year and there is some cause for concern in Westwood,
especially when the lineup does not have a batter of similar
renown. One problem seems to be that Whisler is not getting enough
lift on the ball, as many of his outs have been on the ground. His
ninth inning single that helped win the game on Thursday, though,
was an encouraging sign. “It was a rope, hard and in the
air,” Adams said. “And that’s what we want him to
do because he’s been hitting it into the ground
lately.” Of course, having Whisler batting low in the order
may rejuvenate an offense that is ranked last in the Pac-10.
“It’s good to spread the wealth and to see that Wes is
very productive in the seventh spot,” Adams said. “I
like seeing us get that much production from lower in the
lineup.”
LONG BEACH STATE: David Johnson will get the
start today for the Bruins (18-14), his third of the year, against
the No. 5 Dirtbags (23-8). UCLA lost to LBSU earlier in the year,
3-0, in the San Diego State Tournament.