What's wrong with Tabata?

by Dalman on Apr 28, 2008 3:04 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

On the fastest of fast tracks until recently, Jose Tabata came into this year with a lot of question marks after hand surgery that cut last season short. Well the answers are starting to come in but they aren't very pretty. Even given small sample size, a .200 batting average with no power is pretty awful. its one of those situations in which either explanation in bad. If he's hurting you wonder if its chronic, if not its a bit like the guy who made a fool of himself at the office Christmas party but then rinsists that he wasn't drunk when it happened. Fixable problem or time to really, really worry?

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Wrist injuries...

they always seem to end up being a little more serious than they seem. I really would give the still very young man the benefit of the doubt for awhile longer.

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
Crash Davis

by Terry Ryan Jr on Apr 28, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Average will come around

his strike zone judgment is still really good.

No one really knows the answer to the power question. It’s not worth worrying about at this point.

by number_twentyone on Apr 28, 2008 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah

I’d say a 70/30 K/BB ratio in 460 PAs in the FSL is marginal. Add to that a .360 BABIP and a 10% LD%, and his batting average was inflated last year. This year, his BABIP is .261 with comparable BB and K rates. This is just what we should expect from him, which is why I never understood what all the fuss is about, especially for such a small guy with little power who typically plays on the corner.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 29, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Do people realize that this guy is only 19? Not only that, but the season isn’t even a month old. I am amazed that everyone is so down on a guy that is 19 years old, playing in AA who isn’t performing well in the month of APRIL. Give him time to grow as he is playing well above his age level at the moment. Yes he may not be a big body but that is because he is young and his body hasn’t filled out yet.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Apr 29, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get

the analogy of the guy at the Christmas party.

I will be waiting...24601.

by PujolsJunkie on Apr 28, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what's wrong

is that he’s never shown any power ever.

The only difference between now and before, is that he’s got a bad BABIP.

His plate discipline and line drive rates are pretty consistent with last year.

He has no power, never has. Maybe he’ll get some. But he’s also like 5’9” 115 pounds, so I don’t envision a lot.

by Galt on Apr 28, 2008 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes

Guys flame out.

1941 .406

by FrozenTed9 on Apr 28, 2008 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hamate

Almost always takes a couple years to get power back after hamate surgery.

Unless Tabata has gone all anorexic, he’s no lightweight. He’s short, but very stocky, especially through the legs.

Bad BABIP for a hitter may also mean that the person’s just not making solid contact. It’s not necessarily a luck thing for hitters. If he’s hitting the ball with the power of a 70’s shortstop, then obviously his BABIP will be low. I suspect the hamate surgery has sapped all of his power, and even when he hits the ball squarely it just gets hit slow enough that it gives the defenders time to make plays. That’s just a guess though.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Apr 28, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's 19

And it’s April.

by acerimusdux on Apr 28, 2008 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not that good to begin with

I dont know if you can blame a guy for being overrated b/c of his ARL.

I was never a fan. Of course, he is still young and has plenty of time to improve. Its not exactly time to cut ties. He could still be a pretty good ballplayer, but the hype machine built him up too much for what he has shown IMHO.

by alskor on Apr 28, 2008 9:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny, I'm wondering the same thing with Travis Snider

Tons of K’s, low average, although he did most of spring training with an injury.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farnsworth: Start the ship, Leela. Let's just steal the damn radar dish and get back to our own time.
Fry: But- But won't that change history?
Farnsworth: Oh, a lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa! Let's get the hell out of here already! Screw history!

Farnsworth: You mustn't interfere with the past! Don't do anything that affects anything. Unless it turns out you were supposed to do it. In which case, for the love of God don't not do it!
Fry: Got it.
Farnsworth: If for example you were to kill your grandfather, you'd cease to exist.
Fry: (gasps) But existing is basically all I do.

by parrot11 on Apr 28, 2008 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs