LOCAL WATCH: A JACK OF MORE TRADES CONFIDENCE IS KEY TO WILSON'S IMPROVED BAT.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Jack Wilson wants to shed the label.

The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop's defensive plays routinely appear in highlight clips, and he went longer than any other starting shortstop in the majors this season before committing his first error. However, Wilson wants to be known for more than his fielding.

``It's a tough label to have,'' said Wilson, a graduate of Thousand Oaks High. ``You don't really want to be known as a one-sided player.''

His .985 fielding percentage entering the weekend was still more impressive than his .259 batting average, but for a player who entered the season with a career .240 average, seven home runs and 72 RBI in two big- league seasons, Wilson is on the right track to showing that he is more than a one-sided player.

Aided by a boost in confidence from a temporary move up in the batting order, Wilson had one of the best stretches of his big-league career at he plate. He had a seven-game hitting streak as well as 18 hits in the final 12 games of April, with his average peaking Apr. 29 at .318.

``It's going to take more than this to prove I can be a good offensive player,'' Wilson said. ``Remember the first few weeks of the season?''

Three weeks into the season, Wilson was batting .160.

Then he was moved from the No. 8 slot to second in the batting order. Wilson was so used to batting low in the order he instinctively checked the eighth spot in the lineup and thought he wasn't playing when his name wasn't there. When he saw he was batting second, he said he was encouraged by the confidence being shown by Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon.

``Sometimes all you need is that little bit of confidence to help you feel better up there at the plate,'' Wilson said. ``When you're hitting .150 and your manger throws you in the two hole because Jason Kendall has a day off, it feels good to know that your manager has some confidence to put you in that part of the lineup. I think it's just grown from there.''

The selection of pitches he saw higher in the order also was a benefit. Without a weak-hitting pitcher batting behind him, Wilson was able to see a lot more fastballs. McClendon said he hoped that the more aggressive approach Wilson began to show will continue no matter where he bats in the order since the move was not meant to be permanent.

Wilson has moved up and down in the lineup since Brian Giles - who had been out with a knee injury - was taken off the disabled list two weeks ago.

Like the Pirates as a whole, Wilson's production at the plate has cooled in the past few weeks. But one thing Pittsburgh knows it can always count on is sound fielding from Wilson. Before a May 4 error against the Dodgers, Wilson had a streak of 52 consecutive errorless games dating back to last season, when he ranked fifth among National League shortstops in fielding percentage. He has only three errors this season.

``He's been outstanding,'' McClendon said. ``He's as steady as they come.''

The reputation is a new one for Wilson, 25, who grew up as a top hitter, leading the state in batting with a .581 average his junior year at Thousand Oaks.

``I didn't turn into a defensive player really until I got to the big leagues,'' he said. ``I started playing better defense at Double-A, but I never had that classification. I always hit well down in the minor leagues and high school and everything.

``I'd love to hit like that again, but you can't let it keep you from doing the other part of the game. That's a big thing that I learned in this game the first couple years, that you can't take your bat out to the field.

``If you're not helping your team offensively, then you've got to figure out a way to help your team. And I think defense is why I'm here in the first place. So I've definitely got to make sure I keep playing good defense and help my team win.''

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Former Thousand Oaks standout Jack Wilson has only three errors this year at shortstop.

Scott Audette/Associated Press