Tim Tebow: Pride of The Philippines

Plympton91

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Tebow is arguably the greatest college football player ever and won most of his fans as a college player while playing in the Bible belt. What's the racism angle?
Squirrel!

Back on topic, I saw an article that said he hit .484 as a HS junior and then gave up to play football. Will be interesting. I wonder if he'd be willing to play independent leagues for a year.
 

Average Reds

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If it pisses off Buck Showalter, than I am now fully on board the Tebow train.
That article has left me deeply conflicted, as I hate agreeing with Buck. But he's right.

Anyway, if he wants to try his hand at the game, more power to Timmy, but the only player I am aware of who launched a successful comeback after taking a decade off after high school was Roy Hobbs.

Of course, like Michael Jordan's baseball "career," this was never about Tebow having a real chance at making an MLB roster. Knock yourself out, big guy.
 

BestGameEvah

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Chili Davis weighs in: (WEEI)
"I wouldn't want to take on that project," admitted Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis. "But it would be an interesting one to take on. He played pro football. He understands how this works. The best high school players are in college, and the best college players are in the minors, and the best minor leaguers are in the big leagues. It would be a long journey for him."
Davis said he'd start with the basics.
"I guess you start him on the tee," he said with a laugh. "Put him on the tee, see what kind of swing he's got. The same thing you'd do to any other hitter. Just evaluate him. I saw that Sheffield was working with him, which is interesting. There's a difference between high school ball or college ball and coming out and trying to play pro baseball."
 

tbrep

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Don't agree with Tebow's views but I've always admired the kid - stayed out of trouble, had great self discipline and was proudly faithful in an era where that's mocked. Its the media circus around him that's a bit hard to take (but can't blame him for leveraging his fame into a career given the lack of professional success he's had).
 

Toe Nash

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Squirrel!

Back on topic, I saw an article that said he hit .484 as a HS junior and then gave up to play football. Will be interesting. I wonder if he'd be willing to play independent leagues for a year.
Don't thousands of HS Juniors hit .484? I don't think that tells us anything.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I can easily see the St Paul Saints giving him some playing time if he's serious about this. I attended a game there a couple of weeks ago; to say they're all about entertainment is putting things mildly.
 

SoxJox

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Don't thousands of HS Juniors hit .484? I don't think that tells us anything.
It tells us that he didn't hit .234, in which case this story, deemed preposterous by nearly everyone, would move into the ludicrous category. It says that at a minimum he was once positioned like many others before him. Sure, the vast majority of them didn't make it. But there might be something about Heisman-like talent - you know, like the others didn't have - that might suggest some tangible difference. Who the f**k knows whether that translates into something else for him. Let the story develop as it will. I say more power to him for trying.
 

Rasputin

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I can easily see the St Paul Saints giving him some playing time if he's serious about this. I attended a game there a couple of weeks ago; to say they're all about entertainment is putting things mildly.
Every year the St Paul Saints have an Atheist Day where they call themselves the Saint Paul Aints.

I would pay decent money for a picture of Tim Tebow in a Saint Paul Aints jersey.
 

WayBackVazquez

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mauidano said better what I intended. I'm neither a Tebow fan nor critic and had thought the discussion could have - at least momentarily - given the appearance of looking at the pros/cons/likelihood of success, etc. of Tebow's effort, and not immediately turn into the shit show of drive by comments.
It tells us that he didn't hit .234, in which case this story, deemed preposterous by nearly everyone, would move into the ludicrous category. It says that at a minimum he was once positioned like many others before him. Sure, the vast majority of them didn't make it. But there might be something about Heisman-like talent - you know, like the others didn't have - that might suggest some tangible difference. Who the f**k knows whether that translates into something else for him. Let the story develop as it will. I say more power to him for trying.
Well, which is it? Should we talk about his likelihood of success, or should we let the story develop as it will? Look, despite your protestations to the contrary, it's pretty clear you have a soft spot for the guy, and there's nothing wrong with that. But when the national media makes a major story about the efforts of a 30 year-old who hasn't played baseball since high school, you can't demand that we either say something nice or nothing at all. It really doesn't matter whether "we would give it a shot, too." We're not being humored/fellated by the national media, and Timmy's a big boy.

I feel pretty confident that most of us would have mocked Jordan's efforts at baseball too, if that makes you feel any better.
 

Toe Nash

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It tells us that he didn't hit .234, in which case this story, deemed preposterous by nearly everyone, would move into the ludicrous category. It says that at a minimum he was once positioned like many others before him. Sure, the vast majority of them didn't make it. But there might be something about Heisman-like talent - you know, like the others didn't have - that might suggest some tangible difference. Who the f**k knows whether that translates into something else for him. Let the story develop as it will. I say more power to him for trying.
Right, so he has a 1:100000 chance instead of a 1:100000000000. Great.

He was on a similar track to guys who might make the majors but then he took 11 years off from baseball (and 6 from full-time pro sports). In the meantime those other guys kept playing baseball and improving against tougher and tougher competition, and only a small fraction of them even made single-A. He can probably play defense and run the bases at an OK level but hitting a baseball is such a singular skill that you can't just pick it up.

If he went back to high school he could probably do pretty well.
 

shaggydog2000

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It tells us that he didn't hit .234, in which case this story, deemed preposterous by nearly everyone, would move into the ludicrous category. It says that at a minimum he was once positioned like many others before him. Sure, the vast majority of them didn't make it. But there might be something about Heisman-like talent - you know, like the others didn't have - that might suggest some tangible difference. Who the f**k knows whether that translates into something else for him. Let the story develop as it will. I say more power to him for trying.
His Heisman-like talent hasn't helped him be any good at all of the other things he's tried, athletic or otherwise since he left a completely stacked college program designed to make his position look good. So no, I don't think it will help him hit a curve-ball.
 

SoxJox

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Well, which is it? Look, despite your protestations to the contrary, it's pretty clear you have a soft spot for the guy, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Guilty. A soft 3. :) But I think that softness is based more on respect of his perseverance than being a fan or critic. Maybe a distinction without a difference.

And in general response to other posters, there is no way I am arguing that the road ahead of him is anything but near-impossible. My main point earlier on was that I wished him the best for trying.
 

Fred not Lynn

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WayBackVazquez

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Here's a good current day comparable for Tebow...Eddy Alvarez in the White Sox system; Successful athlete from another sport working his was through the minors - albeit with the luxury of not being the center of a circus like Tebow will.

The night this article was published, Alvarez went 5 for 5 for AA Birmingham. The next day (today) he got promoted to AAA Charlotte.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2655329-olympic-speedskating-silver-medalist-eddy-alvarez-now-making-mlb-push
Yeah, they're comparable, except that this kid is 26 and has been playing baseball in college and the minors since 2011, and Tebow is 29, and hasn't played since high school.
 

Average Reds

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Guilty. A soft 3. :) But I think that softness is based more on respect of his perseverance than being a fan or critic. Maybe a distinction without a difference.

And in general response to other posters, there is no way I am arguing that the road ahead of him is anything but near-impossible. My main point earlier on was that I wished him the best for trying.
Without knowing it, I think you've touched on the reason that most are scornful of Tebow. His story - at least as it relates to baseball - is the opposite of perseverance. It's about hyperbole in service of profit through a joint venture (real or symbolic) with Disney/ESPN.

This isn't Daniel Nava overcoming the odds by playing in the Independant League because no one will give him a shot. This is a man who announced his career change through a targeted, coordinated press release from his agency (CAA) through his erstwhile employer (ESPN) complete with video of his "secret" workouts. And conveniently timed to align with the launch of a book coming out this fall and the addition of signed baseball memorabilia to his website. (Bats for $175; baseballs for $125.)

I have no particular dislike of Tim Tebow. He was a great college football player and I openly rooted for him to succeed in the pros. But this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to promote the Tebow brand and add flavor/interest to the inevitable Disney movie. (Look for it in the summer/fall of 2018.)
 

shaggydog2000

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Without knowing it, I think you've touched on the reason that most are scornful of Tebow. His story - at least as it relates to baseball - is the opposite of perseverance. It's about hyperbole in service of profit through a joint venture (real or symbolic) with Disney/ESPN.

This isn't Daniel Nava overcoming the odds by playing in the Independant League because no one will give him a shot. This is a man who announced his career change through a targeted, coordinated press release from his agency (CAA) through his erstwhile employer (ESPN) complete with video of his "secret" workouts. And conveniently timed to align with the launch of a book coming out this fall and the addition of signed baseball memorabilia to his website. (Bats for $175; baseballs for $125.)

I have no particular dislike of Tim Tebow. He was a great college football player and I openly rooted for him to succeed in the pros. But this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to promote the Tebow brand and add flavor/interest to the inevitable Disney movie. (Look for it in the summer/fall of 2018.)
I can't wait to see the part of the movie where Tebow gets cut from Patriots training camp after looking completely incompetent in two exhibition games. What drama. How uplifting.
 

SoxJox

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Without knowing it, I think you've touched on the reason that most are scornful of Tebow. His story - at least as it relates to baseball - is the opposite of perseverance. It's about hyperbole in service of profit through a joint venture (real or symbolic) with Disney/ESPN.

This isn't Daniel Nava overcoming the odds by playing in the Independant League because no one will give him a shot. This is a man who announced his career change through a targeted, coordinated press release from his agency (CAA) through his erstwhile employer (ESPN) complete with video of his "secret" workouts. And conveniently timed to align with the launch of a book coming out this fall and the addition of signed baseball memorabilia to his website. (Bats for $175; baseballs for $125.)

I have no particular dislike of Tim Tebow. He was a great college football player and I openly rooted for him to succeed in the pros. But this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to promote the Tebow brand and add flavor/interest to the inevitable Disney movie. (Look for it in the summer/fall of 2018.)
I'll have to admit that I've followed the story only to a millimeter of the depth to which you've laid out, so my perspective seems to have been one built on ignorance. Thanks for the details. With this new information, I can put my interest in the story to bed.
 

Fred not Lynn

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This is a man who announced his career change through a targeted, coordinated press release from his agency (CAA) through his erstwhile employer (ESPN) complete with video of his "secret" workouts. And conveniently timed to align with the launch of a book coming out this fall and the addition of signed baseball memorabilia to his website. (Bats for $175; baseballs for $125.)
I think that's what I was getting at with the Eddy Alvarez comparison. Alvarez quietly signed after the 2014 draft and went off to instructional league, generating a story or two out of novelty but really just being a rank and file minor leaguer. No signing bonus, no website, no TV movie, no memorabilia. No matter the decorations, eventually Tebow has to do the part where you hit, catch and throw like Alvarez did.
 

soxhop411

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“@PeteAbe: Dave Dombrowski says the #RedSox will send a scout to watch Tim Tebow’s workout.”

I assume every team will send at least one scout.
 

Fred not Lynn

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It's in LA I think. Costs pretty much zero to attend - for that it's fends off the "why didn't you go" PR problem.
 

NDame616

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It's in LA I think. Costs pretty much zero to attend - for that it's fends off the "why didn't you go" PR problem.
You think it would be a PR problem to not waste your time on a Tim Tebow workout?

a PR problem would be a team signing Ray Rice. Deflategate is a PR problem. not attending Tebow's workout, is not.
 

Fred not Lynn

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It's free...why not do it anyway? Just in case...

Maybe it's not a big deal for Boston, but it will be for Atlanta, Florida, Tampa etc.

That and anyone with a minor league affiliate in the south needs to at least have a look - double if the MLB team actually owns one or more of their MiLB affiliates.
 

Plympton91

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It's free...why not do it anyway? Just in case...

Maybe it's not a big deal for Boston, but it will be for Atlanta, Florida, Tampa etc.

That and anyone with a minor league affiliate in the south needs to at least have a look - double if the MLB team actually owns one or more of their MiLB affiliates.
Like say, the team that owns the one in Salem, VA?
 

Leather

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I can easily see the St Paul Saints giving him some playing time if he's serious about this. I attended a game there a couple of weeks ago; to say they're all about entertainment is putting things mildly.
First place, bay-bee!
 

tims4wins

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Early consensus from scouts evaluating Tebow's baseball tools at work out: 55 Run 40 Arm 40 FLD 35 Hit 55 Power full report on Baseball Tonight 10pm et 7pm pac ESPN
 

Bosoxen

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What do those numbers mean? Good, bad, middling? Scale of 100?
It's a scale of 80. In other words, he's fucked. I'm sure there are plenty of people on this board who could manage a 35 grade on the hit tool. But none of them would get a free audition in front of pro scouts.

AR was right. This was nothing but a publicity stunt.

Edit: Missed it by that much. That's what I get for editorializing.
 

tims4wins

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For a point of comparison:

Moncada, February 2015:
Hitting - 60
Power - 60
Running - 65
Trowing - 60
Fielding - 50
 

Fred not Lynn

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It's pretty damning that as a left-handed thrower trying to finagle his way into a baseball career that he wasn't even thinking of pitching.

How was he a D1 QB with an arm like that...
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I am more thinking indy ball. In A ball he clogs the pipeline...(but also sells tickets, so you balance that).
Half the guys in A-ball are roster filler who are unlikely to ever see AA, let alone the big leagues. Tebow would more likely "clog the pipeline" for one of them than anyone with MLB potential. No harm there, really, at least from the perspective of the big league club.
 

CoolPapaLaSchelle

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It's pretty damning that as a left-handed thrower trying to finagle his way into a baseball career that he wasn't even thinking of pitching.

How was he a D1 QB with an arm like that...

With Tebow's throwing accuracy, even a Molina would look like Flaherty trying to catch Wake in 2006 spring training.
 

NDame616

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Tebow didn't want to keep pursuing "his passion" which was football in another league, when it was apparent he wasn't going to make it as an NFL QB....but I'm supposed to think he has no problem accepting the life (and salary) of a player in A ball?

He will be back behind the desk at the SEC network or ESPN making hundreds of thosands of dollars before opening kickoff.
 

Fred not Lynn

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By all accounts he's been a competent football broadcaster. By dabbling a bit in baseball, maybe he makes himself a bit more credible to get behind the baseball mic too...