It may be time for the New York Mets to start thinking about putting an end to the Tim Tebow baseball era.
It’s time for an end to the Tim Tebow sideshow. Whether the New York Mets are serious about Tebow playing at the major league level or are just interested in publicity and selling merchandise is still not clear.
However, wherever Tebow goes, the media follows.
The Mets’ AAA affiliate held its media day this week at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse. This is the Mets’ first year in central New York after relocating from Las Vegas. Instead of focusing on the team’s new home, most of the questions centered around Tebow.
Tebow is beginning his third season in the Mets’ minor league system. After retiring from football, the former quarterback was signed by the Mets in September 2016. Tebow does have a background in baseball, but he had last played competitively when he was in High School. That’s a 12-year gap.
The former Heisman Trophy recipient spent the 2017 season in Single-A and struggled mightily. He hit .226 with eight home runs. Last year he put up better numbers with the Mets’ Double-A affiliate in Binghamton. He hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles, and 36 RBIs.
In all, Tebow has played in 201 minor-league games for the Mets. Worryingly, he has struck out 229 times.
Tebow is a celebrity, not a baseball player
It’s clear that part of Tebow’s allure is his celebrity.
He currently works for ESPN during college football season and is the host of the LeBron James produced Million Dollar Mile. He is also heavily involved in charity work and has his own foundation that supports children with special needs.
Syracuse is taking advantage of Tebow-mania and using his likeness to sell tickets and bring people out to the ballpark. There’s even a Tim Tebow bobblehead night scheduled for May 18.
#Tebowmania has officially hit NBT Bank Stadium! Tim Tebow Tees are available now! Tebow jerseys are also available for preorder, follow below to buy a replica Tebow Home or Road jersey! #LetsGO
? https://t.co/FRLJLlfyLA
⚾ https://t.co/roDKgK1JhE
⚾ https://t.co/5ophwYamwl pic.twitter.com/05Sy3meDcD— Syracuse Butter Sculptures (@SyracuseMets) April 1, 2019
For further proof of Tebow’s celebrity status, look at his Instagram page where he has 1.8 million followers. Then compare it to the Mets’ team Instagram account with 795 thousand followers.
To be clear, this is not an anti-Tim Tebow rant. It’s about the business of baseball versus the selling of celebrity.
The New York Mets are a baseball team and the club’s fans want to see the best players on the field. A 31-year-old former NFL quarterback with a career Minor League average of .244 is not going to cut it.
It’s time to end the circus.
