# Tim Tebow, go away! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 9, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243 "2016-08-09T13:48:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/41 "2016-08-11T09:48:42Z")
I have no problems with Tebow attempting a baseball career. He is a gifted athlete. He will loose a bunch of money giving up his TV job. Minor league teams ride buses and stay in cheap motels. Tebow will have to pay his dues riding those busses before any major league team will consider him. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/42 "2016-08-11T14:01:33Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > The politics and backstabbing that go on in lower levels of baseball are a complete joke, so for anyone to fault Tim Tebow for giving it a try and maybe earning a few shekels for a struggling Minor League team for a few months to me is a joke. I don’t have a personal problem with him at all. For my part, I think a person should be allowed to try anything that pops into their head. It’s a free country. I am, however, of the reasonably well educated opinion that Tebow’s chances of being a real Major League Baseball player are little better than mine, and I would have to agree with anyone were they to say that it is rather difficult to believe Tebow himself has made a realistic decision here. He’s 29 years old, hasn’t played organized baseball in ten years, and visibly does not have the technical skills to hit major league pitching. (I’d like to see video of his outfield play - that isn’t as easy as people think, either.) So one of three things is true: 1. Tim Tebow is so incredibly possessed of blinding hubris that he actually believes he can become a major leaguer in a sport he can’t yet play at a professional level with a few months of practice, 2. Tebow has been flummoxed into THINKING he’s an MLB-quality ballplayer by people who have a vested interest in him thinking that, or 3. It’s a PR stunt. Whichever is true, if an MLB team signs him and sticks him on their AA team, I agree it’s not Tim Tebow’s fault some other guy lot the roster spot (and quite honestly, probably every AA team has at least one guy whose chances at the majors are obviously nothing and who’s there because, well, someone has to fill that spot.) \*\*It’s the fault of the TEAM. \*\* If the San Francisco Giants went insane and offered me a pitching spot at Richmond, I wouldn’t be like “oh, gosh, I can’t ask Smith to lose this job there.” I’d fucking take it, and after I got blown out and was sent home with my 15.73 ERA I’d be grinning from ear to ear saying “I was a pro ballplayer.” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/43 "2016-08-11T14:37:40Z")
Didn’t Michael Jordan give up at the beginning of his third minor league season? He never developed a decent batting average. Tebow will need similar time in the minors just to find out if he can develop the necessary skills. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/44 "2016-08-11T14:47:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Didn’t Michael Jordan give up at the beginning of his third minor league season? He never developed a decent batting average. Second or third, depending on how you want to parse things. He played in two different minor leagues in 1994; for the Birmingham Barons (the White Sox AA affiliate, in the Southern League) during the summer, then for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. So, two leagues, two “seasons”, but only one calendar year of playing professional baseball. He left the Barons during spring training in 1995, and rejoined the Bulls shortly thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/45 "2016-08-14T16:47:37Z")
The NFL wished Tebow happy birthday today on their official Facebook page. Really? Why not Ryan Leaf? JaMarcus Russell? Vince Young? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/46 "2016-08-14T17:23:17Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > _“In recent interviews, Tebow has said he was considering potential careers in politics, coaching and a possible NFL return.”_ > [Tim Tebow pursuing professional baseball career - Sports Illustrated](http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/09/tim-tebow-pursuing-professional-baseball-career) > I’m sure he’ll settle on something eventually… > [@adaher](#): > > I’d say politics is probably where he’ll actually have success. Governor of Florida! > [@RickJay](#): > > …So one of three things is true: > > 1. Tim Tebow is so incredibly possessed of blinding hubris that he actually believes he can become a major leaguer in a sport he can’t yet play at a professional level with a few months of practice, > 2. Tebow has been flummoxed into THINKING he’s an MLB-quality ballplayer by people who have a vested interest in him thinking that, or > 3. It’s a PR stunt. The Onion, 8-10-2016, random man-on-the-street observation: “Football, broadcasting, and now baseball? Is there any limit to what this guy can do for a little while?” ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/47 "2016-08-14T23:11:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have no problems with Tebow attempting a baseball career. He is a gifted athlete. He will loose a bunch of money giving up his TV job. Minor league teams ride buses and stay in cheap motels. Tebow will have to pay his dues riding those busses before any major league team will consider him. > **[Mendoza Line](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendoza_Line)** > > The Mendoza Line is baseball jargon for a .200 batting average, the supposed threshold for offensive futility at the Major League level. It derives from light-hitting shortstop Mario Mendoza, who failed to reach .200 five times in his nine big league seasons. When a position player's batting average falls below .200, the player is said to be "below the Mendoza Line". > Mendoza was a lightly used shortstop from Chihuahua, Mexico, who played for three franchises during a nine-season Major League ca... He’ll never clear the Mendoza Line. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/48 "2016-08-14T23:38:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Didn’t Michael Jordan give up at the beginning of his third minor league season? He never developed a decent batting average. > > Tebow will need similar time in the minors just to find out if he can develop the necessary skills. You must admit there’s no telling what Jordan might have accomplished in baseball had he not been kidnapped by aliens and forced to play basketball with various animated characters. And Bill Murray. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/49 "2016-08-15T00:24:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’d say politics is probably where he’ll actually have success. Governor of Florida! Too many Seminoles and Hurricanes for that to happen. You think politics is partisan? you don’t know about college football in Florida… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/50 "2016-08-15T19:49:57Z")
Tebow now selling autographed bats and balls. [http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/15/tim-tebow-selling-autographed-bats-baseballs?xid=si\_social](http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/15/tim-tebow-selling-autographed-bats-baseballs?xid=si_social) ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/51 "2016-08-16T01:19:17Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Tebow now selling autographed bats and balls. > [Tim Tebow selling autographed bats and baseballs - Sports Illustrated](http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/15/tim-tebow-selling-autographed-bats-baseballs?xid=si_social) And, there you go. Just needed some bucks, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![WhyWhyWhy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whywhywhy/32/7539_2.png) [@WhyWhyWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyWhyWhy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/52 "2016-08-28T06:17:48Z")
Teebat Tebow has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/53 "2016-08-31T20:36:18Z")
Some results: [Tim Tebow displays power, earns mixed scouting reviews at MLB workout](http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/30/tim-tebow-workout-mlb-scouts/89589422/) It’s unclear to me whether these ratings numbers they’re giving him are on a scale calibrated to MLB players, or to minor league prospects. One thing that surprised me is that he was rated as having a weak arm. You would think anybody who played QB in the NFL would have a strong outfield arm. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/54 "2016-08-31T20:47:05Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > One thing that surprised me is that he was rated as having a weak arm. You would think anybody who played QB in the NFL would have a strong outfield arm. It’s a different throw with a different ball… and throwing the football was never his strength as a QB anyway. The cynics over at [Deadspin](http://deadspin.com/tim-tebow-got-what-he-needed-1785994064) think it was never about playing professional baseball anyway: > [@](#): > > But none of that matters to Tim Tebow, not really. What matters is that, according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Tebow just signed a multiyear endorsement deal with a shoe and apparel brand. The key here is the timing of the deal: > _Sources said there was always an active dialogue between Tebow and shoe and apparel companies. His attempt to make it in baseball accelerated that timeline._ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/55 "2016-08-31T21:00:03Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > It’s a different throw with a different ball… and throwing the football was never his strength as a QB anyway. No, no, no, no! This is The Straight Dope. Thou shalt not pass up an opportunity for an _Airplane!_ quote. It’s a different kind of throwing altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/56 "2016-08-31T21:10:05Z")
> [@WhyWhyWhy](#): > > Teebat Tebow has a nice ring to it. That’s good, but I like Taebo Tebow better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/57 "2016-08-31T21:10:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > No, no, no, no! > This is The Straight Dope. Thou shalt not pass up an opportunity for an _Airplane!_ quote. > > It’s a different kind of throwing altogether. Doh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/58 "2016-09-08T18:13:10Z")
Signed to a minor league contract with the NY Mets. > **[Think Tebow to the Mets is a joke? You're wrong](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17494310/think-tebow-mets-joke-wrong)** > > Tim Tebow joining the Mets might seem like a punch line to some, but it is actually a risk worth taking for baseball reasons and beyond. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/59 "2016-09-08T18:34:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s a different kind of throwing altogether. It’s a different kind of throwing ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243/60 "2016-09-08T19:01:26Z")
Glad Tebow is getting the chance. The instructional league and winter league experience will be a good indication of Tebow’s potential. If he stinks then the Mets are out almost nothing. He’ll have to prove himself before they’ll sign him to a minor league team next Spring. This is a good lesson for college athletes that played two sports in high school. Play football and baseball. So you have two viable pro options. Jameis Winston did that. He could make the switch a lot easier than Tebow because Jameis played college baseball. It’s a long shot for Tebow. But I don’t see where the Mets have anything to lose. They probably aren’t paying him much and they would be holding Instructional Camp for other players anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-tebow-go-away/762243.md?page=4)