One thing that bothers me greatly with the Topps license monopoly is that they use the same photo in different sets. I'm ok with using photos from the same photoshoot, but the exact same photo? C'mon Topps!
Jose Tabata is my second favorite positional player on the current Pirates team after Andrew McCutchen. My Tabata collection has been growing steadily over the past year as I have tried to collect some of his rarer cards. With his ex wife's legal troubles behind him, Jose can focus on baseball and be a future fixture in right field for the Pirates. He will be only 23 years olds entering the season, which is still relatively young by today's standards. Recognizing the huge upside and five tool player that Jose may one day become, the Pirates agreed to a contract extension prior to the end of last year while Jose was on the DL that could keep the Venezuelan native in Pittsburgh through 2019. It's a very team friendly contract similiar to the one that Evan Longoria signed in Tampa after his brief success that looks like a steal now.
In 193 career games, Jose has 210 hits, 35 SB, and a batting average of .284. His offensive WAR is only 1.5 currently, but I suspect that will improve when fully healthy and he develops more power.
His fielding is also very impressive as he had lead all NL left fielders in his rookie campaign in range factor and fielding percentage. Jose has committed only 3 errors in his career through 193 games. Jose has asked the Pirates organization to move to right field to honor his idol Roberto Clemente.
I just realized my thoughts were all over the place in this post and for that I apologize, but I'm feeling a little under the weather again. To further make this post more random, enjoy this cheaply purchased Barry Bonds graded 1986 Topps rookie card.
A team set of 1/1s would be sweet....good luck!
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