Jose Tabata Off to Great Start

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 21, 2008 2:30 AM EDT

.372/.400/.512, with a homer and four stolen bases in 43 at bats.

Obviously, it would be just as dumb to judge Tabata solely on his great start as it would to judge Andy LaRoche solely on his poor one, but look what Ken Rosenthal had to say this week:

So far, so good for Pirates Class AA outfielder Jose Tabata, whose questionable makeup has not been an issue since he arrived in a trade from the Yankees. "Everyone says he's a dog, but he played well for me," one scout says. "He ran every ball out, played well defensively. He can flat hit. But if the power is there, it's going to be late coming." Tabata just turned 20, and the Pirates envision him as a hitter who can produce 65 extra-base hits per season while playing quality defense...

Maybe Tabata is benefiting from his change of scenery. I think the "change of scenery" explanation is probably used far too often, but that sort of thing is probably more likely to affect a 20 year-old than a veteran. It's also possible he's just healthier than he was with the Yankees. Or maybe this is all just a batting average-driven fluke.

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Not far off with "change of scenery"

Have you ever been to Altoona? My in-laws live in Hollidaysburg, so I got there quite often and catch a few Curve games now and then. Imagine the shock to one’s psyche, not to mention someone who is 20, of going from the biggest, most powerful baseball organization in the world with the NY media following your every move to the “metropolis” of Altoona. If the pressure of expectations was getting too much for Jose with NY and that was (partially/mostly) the reason for his outbursts, maybe Altoona and the Pirates were just the remedies he required. We’ll see come next summer…if he works his way to Indy by next year, we could be looking at a good 1, 2, and 3 on our top prospect list (Cutch, Tabata, and Alvarez, not necessarily in that order).

by SpacePirate on Aug 21, 2008 8:07 AM EDT reply actions

Altoona isn't a metropolis?!

Gee, growing up in the hills west of Altoona, we thought it was the height of culture and learning – after all, they have a huge Catholic high school and the only strip bar for miles around – not that there are that many – that isn’t controlled by the PA Mountain Cycles. And I hear that the “Tour de ’Toona” inspired a similar bike race somewhere in Europe (France, maybe?). But I have to admit that the relative isolation of it will help Tabata focus.

I would have to say that the New York media has more than enough on its plate kicking around the major league teams and selected players sent down to AAA (Carl Pavano, Ian Kennedy) to worry about kicking around someone in Trenton. I mean, isn’t being in Trenton punishment enough?

Hopefully he won’t be in AAA long – that’s where you store inventory, not prospects according to the NY sports talk radio fans.

by Trogluddite on Aug 21, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply actions

Talking with scouts in the past...

most view AA as the prospects league and AAA as the roster fodder for MLB, with exception to youngsters who have played their way out of AA but not ready for the MLB grind ( McCutchen, Walker).

In regards to any NYC team, the press will scrutinize anyone from top to bottom. Everyone is ‘on notice’ regardless of playing in the Bronx, Queens or the North Pole.

by ElliottBayBucco on Aug 21, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

With the minor league teams wrapping up their seasons soon,

I wonder if Mr. Tabata will be heading to Hawaii or Arizona for a little fall ball this year? I also wonder who in the PBC’s minor leagues will be headed to either league? Curious to see whom the PBC Front Office wants to see in the AFL or in Venezuela or the Dominican Winter Leagues

by ElliottBayBucco on Aug 21, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions