Jose Tabata hitting .317 from leadoff spot

Jose Tabata (.283 – 6 HR – 32 RBI) has been a pleasant surprise for the Pirates this season and has been an impact player from the leadoff spot in place of Starling Marte. Tabata batting .315 (46-146) since August 1st, is hitting .317/.366/.462 (33-104) with 2 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 7 doubles from the leadoff spot this season. Tabata is 6-11 (.545) with 5 RBIs in his last three games.

Jose Tabata hitting .308 in last 10 games

Jose Tabata (.272 – 4 HR – 21 RBI) has picked the right time to be playing the best baseball of the season for himself with Starling Marte ailing and Marte out until at least Mid-September, possibly longer. Tabata went 2-5 with an RBI and run scored in the Pirates 7-1 win over the Cardinals Saturday night. Tabata has provided a spark of late, hitting .308 with 4 RBIs and four extra base hits in his last 10 games.

Jose Tabata has big night vs Giants

Jose Tabata (.270 – 4 HR – 20 RBI) had a big night in the Pirates 10-5 win, going 3-4 with a double, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Tabata’s night was highlighted by a 3-run double to deep left center in the 5th inning, scoring Garrett Jones, Jordy Mercer and Jeff Locke as the Pirates put up 7 runs in the inning. Tabata batting leadoff got the Pirates going with a single to center to open the game and then Andrew McCutchen had a run scoring single, scoring Tabata as the Pirates jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 1st. Tabata would also add a single in the 8th.

Huntington on team deciding to demote Jose Tabata to the minors

Pirates GM Neal Huntington said today that just about “everything” went into the thought process of demoting outfielder Jose Tabata who has been plagued all season by struggles at the plate and in the field, in addition to having a bad work ethic which has been most alarming about his downfall this season and has led to growing frustrations among management and manager Clint Hurdle. “I would say that just about everything went into the thought process of whether to hold Jose Tabata or option him to 3A, ” Huntington told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com on Tuesday afternoon.

Minor League Report for Aug 11: Tabata quiet in 9-1 win

Indianapolis 9 – Columbus 1 — Jose Tabata (.333) had a quiet night in the Indians 9-1 rout over Columbus. Tabata was 0-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout and walk. Tabata was the DH and It was his 6th rehab game. Tabatas has 4 doubles and 1 RBI during his rehab stint…. — Third baseman Josh Harrison (.315) extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, double and walk. Third baseman Matt Hague (.320) also extended his hitting streak which is now at 8 games. Hague had a three hit night, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored…. — Second baseman Jordy Mercer (2-4, 3B, 4 RBI) drove in 4 runs and

Minor League report for Aug 9: Tabata goes 1-for-4 in loss

Toledo 4 – Indianapolis 2 — Ross Ohlendorf (1-1, 3.63 ERA) made his final rehab start, allowing 7 hits and 4 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. — Jose Tabata (strained quad) started in right field and went 1-for-4 with a double and run scored. Tabata (.308) is 4-for-13 with 2 doubles in four games with the Indians. — Former top prospect Jeff Clement is back with the club and went 1-for-3 in the loss. He is batting .350 on the season. — Center fielder Gorky’s Hernandez had a two hit game.

Pirates would like prospect Jose Tabata to begin next season in Class AAA

One of the more interesting storylines for the Pirates going into the 2010 season will be whether top hitting prospect Jose Tabata claims a roster spot coming out of spring training. Tabata, 20, was promoted up to Class AAA Indianapolis last week after batting .303 in 61 games for the Altoona Curve (AA) and is on the verge of being MLB ready. Tabata has been on a tear since early July and has continued his strong play in AAA, batting .385 in three games with Indianapolis. With the minor league season ending in early September, it has been speculated that Tabata would be a potential September call-up. Indications are that won’t be the case and infact, Tabata will not have

Spring Training Report: Pirates avoid arbitration with McLouth

Updated: 8:02 a.m. The Pirates have signed outfielder Nate McLouth to a three year contract, avoiding arbitration. Last season, McLouth hit .276 with 26 home runs and 94 RBI. The Pirates have made an offer to lefty reliever Will Ohman according to Jerry Crasnik of ESPN. Crasnik writes “Ohman, 31, one of the top relievers left on baseball’s free agent market, has major league offers in hand from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins and San Diego Padres but plans to continue discussions with three contending teams before making a decision on his destination for 2009, his agent said Monday.” The Pirates offer is believed to be in the $1.1 million range. The Pirates also remain interested in starting pitcher Pedro