The odds of Tim Tebow playing in Major League Baseball are slim and none, according to the top sportsbooks. The Mets did promote the Heisman trophy winner from low-A ball to St. Lucie of the high-A Florida State League, but that was a turn of events that not even the former QB had an explanation for. “For me, it’s not something I have to answer,” he said on Sunday. “There’s a lot of smarter, wiser people than me that make those decisions. I just try and show up and play hard every day.” Tebow batted .222 with three homers, 23 runs batted in, on-base percentage and a .340 slugging percentage with 69 strikeouts and 23 walks in 212 plate appearances for the Columbia Fireflies.
Or as general manager Sandy Alderson put it, “It’s not like he’s tearing up the league, but at the same time, all of the indications are positive in terms of various things we look at: chase rates and exit velocity.” So the “wiser, smarter” theory goes out the window, unless Fred Wilpon’s ultimate goal is cause attendance at the games to fall below a certain level so he can move the team to another city, like in Major League. Either that or Tebow is using a mind control device to make the Mets worship the ground he walks on. He just might want to dial it a down a little because it’s also working on other teams.
The Florida Fire Frogs have launched a “VIP Experience” promotional package for Tebow’s eventual arrival for a four-game series July 21-24, which includes a picture of Tebow and their own prospect Tyler Neslony, on-field batting practice viewing, preferred seating ticket, pre- and postgame VIP viewing area, a VIP parking pass and – the pièce de résistance – a commemorative bottle of dirt from the batter’s box. Sportsbooks are not drinking the Tebow kool-aid, though. then again, if Alderson himself admitted that “we signed him because he is a good guy, partly because of his celebrity, partly because this is an entertainment business,” why shouldn’t others follow suit.
Not all Tebow-related gimmicks have been well received, though. the Charleston RiverDogs had to apologize for playing the Hallelujah Chorus during Tebow’s plate appearances. See, because he’s a Christian. Additionally, the team’s mascot wore eye black that featured the Bible verse John 3:16, and put a knee on the ground – ostensibly to pray, also known as Tebowing. Of course, no one complained when he used to do all those things (and don’t tell us he doesn’t hear the Hallelujah Chorus in his whenever he’s at bat).
Then again, Tebow homered in the second game of a Mets‘ doubleheader – his first day with St. Lucie – and had three hits overall at First Data Field. “I felt good,” he said. “Honestly, I felt good the last couple of weeks in Columbia and tried to carry it over. Just put the bat on the ball and hit it hard.” Nonetheless, sportsbook agree that Tebow still has a lot of work to do before he Bo Jacksons his way into the majors.
