quote:

Originally posted by doc45:
I guess if he fails at Single A he can always go back to a community college and play there.

Sorry, not a fan of the guy. Can't quarterback in the NFL, gee I'll try something else and take a spot away from some other kid who might have a chance at their only post educational baseball career by playing Single A only because of his name.

He had his chance and blew it. If he would've moved to a wide receiver he might've had a chance in the NFL.

Just more of the wacky antics of small ball. I guess there's always Little League-oh wait too old for that.

quote:

Tebow’s 2nd Act Has South Carolina Giving Him the 1st-Class Treatment
By DAVID WALDSTEIN|APRIL 9, 2017

[Go to URL to veiw photo] Tim Tebow and his Fireflies teammates. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — In the autumn of 2007, Tim Tebow came to this town to deliver a crushing blow. Then the Florida Gators’ dynamic quarterback, Tebow cemented his destiny as that year’s Heisman Trophy winner by accounting for seven touchdowns against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

Sitting in the stands in Williams-Brice Stadium that day, and watching glumly, was the Honorable Stephen K. Benjamin, who at that point was still three years away from being elected mayor here. At the end of Tebow’s display, Benjamin remembered having one thought: He was glad that Tebow was leaving town and hoped he was gone for good.

Now, a decade later, Mayor Benjamin is thrilled to welcome Tebow back.

“We are so glad he is finally on our side,” Benjamin said. “It’s a heck of a story.”

[Go to URL to view photo] Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, S.C., greeted Tebow in the dugout. Credit Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images

Tebow departed Columbia 10 years ago as an enemy in shoulder pads. But this past Thursday, he returned as a hero with a bat, bringing his remarkable, and sometimes polarizing, appeal to a town — and a region — ready to embrace him.

In his very first at-bat for the Columbia Fireflies, the Mets’ Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League, Tebow added another chapter to his enduring story by blasting a home run, delighting the 10,000 fans who had come to watch him, many of them wearing Tebow jerseys in all sorts of colors.

Jeff Reed, 56, a lawn care specialist from nearby Blythwood, was in the crowd. Reed had actually been a fan of Tebow the football player despite living in a rival Southeastern Conference city. When Reed’s wife went to Denver a few years back, she returned with a No. 15 shirt that Tebow wore when he played quarterback for the N.F.L.’s Broncos. And for Tebow’s first game with the Fireflies, Reed wore it to the ballpark.

“As soon as we heard he would be playing here, we bought tickets,” he said.

So have fans from around the South Atlantic League, which includes teams from the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky and West Virginia, places where college football is king and where Tebow is revered for his gridiron prowess, his persona and, for many, his Christian faith.

[Go to URL to view photo] Tebow during a game. His development must be accelerated into a shorter time frame than the typical Class A player. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

His baseball abilities are another matter.

Still, Jason Freier, the owner of the Fireflies, said the team had been hoping for months — ever since the Mets signed Tebow last September on what almost seemed to be a whim — that he would be assigned to Columbia. In the end, Freier got his wish.

Actually, Columbia was a logical place for Tebow, 29, to begin his professional baseball career. The South Atlantic League is a fairly low rung on the minor league ladder, making it a less challenging environment for an athlete who had been away from the sport for 12 years.

But even if it made perfect sense for Tebow to start here, the Fireflies took nothing for granted. Over the past few months, they have been in constant communication with the Mets — in part at the urging of Benjamin, who said he pestered the Fireflies’ team president, John Katz, nonstop to prod the Mets.

Freier said even fellow owners around the league were asking when the decision would be made official. They, too, were eager to start marketing their Tebow ticket packages for the dates when the Fireflies would visit their towns.

[Go to URL to view photo] Students at the University of South Carolina wore different Tebow jerseys to the game. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

Now, that marketing is in full force.

“They tell me they have been selling well,” Freier said of the league’s other owners. “As soon as the announcement was made last month, about 20-25 friends in the business called and told me: ‘You won the lottery. It’s a marketing bonanza.’ It is as unique a set of circumstances as you will find.”

Freier, who owns two other minor league clubs, said that before Tebow arrived here, he and members of his staff researched the next-closest set of circumstances: Michael Jordan’s foray into minor league baseball in 1994 for the Class AA Birmingham Barons.

They read articles about that chapter of Jordan’s life, watched an ESPN documentary and spoke to people who were in Birmingham at the time.

With that as preparation, they then welcomed Tebow to Columbia – the capital of South Carolina, with a population exceeding 130,000 — and got ready for the whirlwind he seems likely to stir up, some of it financial.

[Go to URL to view photo] Fans waiting for autographs before the game. Ten thousand fans came to see Tim Tebow take up the bat and glove. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

“Does anybody think he is a legitimate baseball prospect?” said Robert Boland, the director of Ohio University’s sports-management program. “Probably not. But Tebow will likely have an enormous effect on ticket and merchandise sales in a very powerful way.”

Normally, minor league teams market a family-friendly experience rather than individual players, because those players often spend no more than one season at a given minor league stop.

Tebow, as is often the case, is the exception. However long he is in Columbia, he is almost certain to be the focus.

The Fireflies’ souvenir shop sells T-shirts with only one player’s name on them — Tebow’s. Freier said that in 11 years owning three teams, he has seen such treatment extended to just one other minor leaguer. In that instance, a player named Josh Van Meter had been a star at Norwell High School in Indiana, and when he joined Freier’s Fort Wayne TinCaps, Freier made up shirts with the hometown hero’s name.

Tebow, of course, is in a far different category. Freier said that when it became clear Tebow would be joining the Fireflies, national media executives told him that Tebow was second only to Tiger Woods over the past few decades when it came to measuring the appeal of an athlete in terms of online page views, clicks and overall video content.

On a micro level, local businesses are hoping Tebow’s arrival radiates all the way to their cash registers. Scott Hall owns the Bone In BBQ food truck that parks outside the Fireflies’ stadium. While not a devout sports fan, he knew enough to compute Tebow’s potential impact on his business.

“At first I was like, ‘Wait, isn’t this the wrong sport?’” Hall said. “But we’re really excited he’s here. We want to get him out here and get a ton of barbecue in him.”

For Hall and others, the hope is that Tebow can thread the needle of being good enough to stay in the Fireflies’ lineup but not so good that the Mets quickly promote him. And despite his home run Thursday, a quick rise in the Mets’ system for Tebow seems unlikely. In his first two games, Tebow went two for 10 with four strikeouts as the Augusta Greenjackets quickly figured him out at the plate.

[Go to URL to view photo] A Fireflies game. “All of my sports experiences helped me for a moment like this,” Tebow said of his foray into baseball. “They all help.” Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

In front of a little over 5,000 people on Friday, Augusta even intentionally walked the bases loaded to have a lefty pitcher face the left-handed Tebow, and he popped out to end that inning.

By then, most of the two dozen members of the news media that had assembled for Tebow’s debut on Thursday were gone, leaving behind a famous athlete looking to settle into a more-or-less normal baseball routine while figuring out if he has what it takes to somehow make it all the way to the major leagues. That verdict may take a while, but not that long.

“This is the ultimate up-or-out business,” Freier said.

Clay Rapada, a former major league pitcher and the Augusta pitching coach, said he could see that Tebow had a plan when he got into the batter’s box. But Tebow’s development must be accelerated into a shorter time frame than the typical Class A player.

“He hit a mistake,” Rapada said of the home run. Still, he noted, “that’s what the big boys in the major leagues get paid a lot of money to do.”

[Go to URL to view photo] Tebow baseball jerseys, going fast. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

Tebow, who endured intense scrutiny playing in places like Gainesville in Florida or big cities throughout the N.F.L., knows that people are watching him again but shrugs off the pressure now back on his enormous shoulders.

“All of my sports experiences helped me for a moment like this,” he said. “They all help.”

And after Thursday’s home run, and a football-sounding 14-7 victory by the Fireflies, Tebow gave a rousing speech to a roomful of coaches and teammates.

One of them was Dash Winningham, a 21-year-old first baseman who is the Fireflies’ real on-field star. He grew up in Ocala, Fla., a short drive from Gainesville. When Winningham was a boy, Tebow was his favorite football player; he was not alone.

“Where I come from, Tim Tebow is like a god,” Winingham said. “But he is really just one of the guys. A little older, maybe, but totally down to earth. Looking around during pregame introductions, it was pretty surreal to think that all of a sudden, we’re teammates.”

[Go to URL to view photo] Tebow and teammates at the end of a game. Credit Travis Dove for The New York Times

As part of those opening-night ceremonies on Thursday, Benjamin threw out the first pitch, then went to the home dugout to shake hands with the man who made his Saturdays so miserable a decade ago.

But now, Benjamin sees Tebow as a real attraction for his city, and maybe even for the sport Tebow is now trying to master. At least that was the prevailing feeling after Thursday’s game.

“When you think about what he represents,” Benjamin said, “even in a Class A minor league system, he may in fact be the new face of baseball.”

That would seem to be an overstatement, but then again that’s what a little bit of Tebowmania can do to you.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
From what I was told, single-A is for folks w potential, triple AAA is for never wills and rehab

I think you got that backwards.

As for Tim, good for him and I wish him luck ~ always liked him and thought he was discriminated against a bit for no real good reason.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
So Jesus Christ can hit a curve ball.
Up yer butt, Jobu.

quote:

Tebow huge draw in the minors, fans packing small stadiums

Associated Press
Pete Iacobelli, AP Sports Writer
Associated PressMay 6, 2017

[Go to URL to view photo] Tebow huge draw in the minors, fans packing small stadiums
FILE - In this April 6, 2017, file photo, Columbia Fireflies' Tim Tebow smiles from the dugout before the team's minor league baseball game against the Augusta GreenJackets in Columbia, S.C. The Single A teams of the South Atlantic League are seeing a burst in attendance whenever Tebow and the Columbia Fireflies go on the road. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Tim Tebow is a big-league hit in the minor leagues.

The Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback has minor league fans around the Single A South Atlantic League flocking to stadiums and jamming ticket lines to see the Columbia Fireflies outfielder and designated-hitter.

The Hickory Crawdads sold out four games with the Fireflies, its total of 17,500 for the series surpassing the 15,900 they drew their first eight games.

"We had 4,500 people in the stands," Crawdads season ticket holder Christopher Pack said, "and 4,300 were there to see Tim Tebow."

People show up in Tebow's NFL jerseys, and Florida Gator outfits, lining up around the rails in this intimate ballparks trying to get autograph or a selfie with Tebow.

It may be unclear if he will ever get to "The Show," but one is clear: Tebow is the biggest show currently playing Class A ball.

That was apparent last Saturday in the eighth inning against Hickory when Tebow, on his off day with the New York Mets affiliate , heard the Crawdads crowd chant his name, hoping that Columbia manager Jose Leger would get him in the game.

"It's not something you see all the time," Hickory general manager Mark Seaman said.

The welcomed chaos has been evident during Tebow's three road trips in April.

In Augusta, Georgia, the GreenJackets front-office staff had to scramble and find enough workers for concessions: 5,830 fans turned out, well above their season's average of 3,190. A few days later in Rome, Georgia, — smack in the heart of Southeastern Conference football territory where the former Florida Gator was a polarizing figure — Tebow and the Fireflies drew 5,105 fans.

"That was two-and-half times what they might bring in for a game in mid-April," said Lakewood (New Jersey) BlueClaws communications director Greg Giombarrese said. "That's when I knew this was something different."

The Fireflies will play at Lakewood in a four-game set starting May 13. They have sold out of their 6,588 reserve sets for two of the games with very limited seating available for the other two. Giombarrese said, after hearing about the other stops, the BlueClaws would have more than 200 employees at the park to handle the fans — about the amount necessary for its most anticipated games of the year like fireworks nights or other special promotions.

Giomborrese anticipates a big weekend because Lakewood, located near the Jersey Shore, is about 90 minutes away from the Mets home, Citi Field. It will be an opportunity for curious New York fans to get a glimpse of the high-profile prospect.

"There should be a lot of Mets caps in the stands," Giomborrese said.

Teams on the small minor league circuit are looking to capitalize on Tebow's presence while it lasts.

The Lexington Legends in Kentucky announced a "Ten Tebow" ticket package for the three series with the Fireflies, starting with a four-game set on Memorial Day weekend. The rival Greenville Drive in South Carolina made the Tebow the focus of a promotion where fans receive fast-food hamburgers should he strikeout three times.

Tebow takes it all in stride.

He'll typically sign autographs before games, smile and wave to cheering fans, blending his popularity with the work necessary to make the major leagues.

"Any time you get support it feels good and people see you, watch you play or shake your hand," Tebow said. "You can't let it affect you, good or bad. You just have to stay locked in and stay focused on the task at hand."

Tebow is steadily finding his swing . He homered twice in the season's first weekend, but has not had another since. His average is under .250, yet he's cut down on his strikeouts as he finds a comfortable zone at the plate.

The South Atlantic League dates its roots back to Ty Cobb, who played in the league's inaugural game with Augusta in 1904. Stars like Cobb, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Steve Carlton spent time in the "Sally" league on their way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The league is one where teenagers with potential develop and advance, said South Atlantic League President Eric Krupa, with fans who can say "remember when" once the young stars reach the bigs. Tebow is a dynamic the league does not often get, an established personality with a national fan base.

Columbia President John Katz was a budding baseball staffer with the then-Double A Carolina Mudcats when Michael Jordan came to his home state in 1994 with the Birmingham Barons. The frenzy seemed even bigger, Katz said, because Jordan was the NBA's best player still in his prime.

"There are some similarities with how people turn out for Tim," Katz said.

It's only fitting the Fireflies are benefiting the most from the latest Tebow mania.

The Fireflies — the longtime Savannah Sand Gnats before moving to South Carolina in 2016 — lead the league in attendance, averaging 5,027 fans per game. People show up in Tebow's NFL jerseys, and Florida Gator outfits, lining up near the rail for an autograph or a selfie with Tebow.

"It's been all positive," Katz said.

Tebow, 29, signed with the Mets last summer. His baseball shelf life is shorter than his teammates, some more than a decade younger. Tebow and Katz both say there's no timetable for him to leave the Fireflies — and put an end to the boom South Atlantic League teams are enjoying when he shows up.

"We don't know how long this is going to last," said Krupa, the league president. "But we're going to enjoy it while it does."

___

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Tim Tebow Promoted to Class-A Minor League St. Lucie Mets

quote:

Tim Tebow homers on first day after Mets promotion
By Anthony Barstow June 28, 2017 | 8:31pm

Looks like Tim Tebow just needed a promotion to bust out of his funk at the plate.

The ex-NFL star turned Mets minor leaguer homered in the first at-bat of his second game Wednesday with St. Lucie after being promoted to High Single-A.

He started the day with a a hit in just his second at-bat with the team, a single in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Palm Beach. Tebow went 3 for 5 with a walk in the two games.

Tebow has shown a facility for making a strong first impression in the minors. The Heisman Trophy winner homered in his first career minor league at-bat with the Columbia Fireflies in April.

There have been grumblings among some in the sport Tebow had not earned his promotion to St. Lucie, and his .220 batting average with 69 strikeouts in 64 games with Columbia seemed to support those concerns.

Nevertheless, Tebow’s drawing power never has waned, with fans turning out in droves — relative to a normal minor league crowd, anyway — to witness the curiosity of a former professional quarterback try to make it in the big leagues.

For whatever else he has done on the field, Tebow rarely has disappointed in that regard, whether turning an errant throw into a souvenir or a bat flip into a must-see clip.

The Tebow show is a long way from making the majors, but if he keeps hitting like this, it could be closer than any of us thought.

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Tim Tebow Promoted to Class-A Minor League St. Lucie Mets

And he DOESN'T disappoint: LINK

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Tim Tebow Promoted to Class-A Minor League St. Lucie Mets

And he DOESN'T disappoint: LINK

That is pretty awesome to have first minor league at bat be a homer, and your first at bat after being promoted a division to be a homer too.