Jose Tabata: Has Young Outfielder Learned his Lesson?
By Matt Shetler
Most Pittsburgh Pirates fans cringed when they heard the news that young outfielder Starling Marte was heading to the disabled list and Jose Tabata would be coming up to take his spot on the roster.
Yes, that Tabata. The one who signed a contract extension at the end of the 2011 season, only to be a major disappointment in 2012. That same Tabata that hit only .230 with three homers and 11 RBI through the first half of the season. That same Tabata that forgot how to run the bases and has been caught stealing 11-of-19 times. That same Tabata whose effort was called into question on more than one occasion this season.
Yes indeed. That Tabata.
In the span of a season, Tabata went from a guy who potentially would be a fixture in front of the Clemente Wall in right field of PNC Park to a guy the organization may have given up on.
Sometimes though young players respond to a wake-up call and that’s exactly what the Pirates are hoping happens to Tabata. He took his demotion hard, which is precisely what the Bucs were hoping to see happen.
"“It was difficult a little bit, but it happens,” Tabata said of being sent to the minor leagues after spending more than two consecutive years in the major leagues. “You’ve got to be strong. The past is the past. I want to forget the past. I’m here today. New mentality. Stronger.”"
When Tabata arrived in Pittsburgh, he showed a great approach at the plate. He was a guy willing to hit the ball the other way, work deep in counts and make things happen on the base paths once he got on.
We saw nothing that resembled that player in 2012.
But to his credit Tabata went down to the minors and put up decent numbers. After initially showing signs of a guy who clearly didn’t want to be in the situation he was in, Tabata started to realize his only path back to the majors would be by earning his way back.
He arrived back just in time for Sunday’s 19-inning marathon and in three games back, Tabata has gone 6-for-17 with a pair of doubles and a couple of walks. In addition, he’s only struck out in three of those 19 plate appearances.
But his ability with the bat in his hands really has never come into question. What has been questioned is Tabata’s ability, or willingness, to do the little things that translate to winning baseball.
In his first game back, he was picked off, caught stealing and failed to get bunts down. Those are the things that drive fans crazy and must be eliminated from his game in order for him to ever reach his potential.
However, Tabata is only 24 and giving up on his talent would be a mistake.
While three games is a small sample size, his approach at the plate looks much better than it has all season. He’s not chasing as many pitches and he has all season and he has the look of a more confident hitter, which is good news for the Pirates.
Like him or not, the Bucs are a better team with Tabata on it than they are without him. At the minimum, he strengthens the bench, which is important.
Who knows what the future holds for Tabata, as Travis Snider has clearly passed him up as the right fielder of the future, but I wouldn’t write Tabata off too quickly. He’s still a guy who can help this team, not only this season, but in the future.
To do so though, Tabata must commit to being the all-around player his skill set suggests he should be.
If he does, I would expect to see some very good things out of him in the future.
However if he doesn’t, it could be just another sad case of talent that got wasted.