Bombers bash Bosox
Red-hot Tebow gets shot to play with best in Double-A
Tim Tebow can add another accolade to his trophy shelf. National champion, first-team All-American, Heisman Trophy winner … Double-A AllStar.
The quarterback turned left fielder for the Mets’ Double-A franchise, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, was named to the Eastern League All-Star team Friday. Catcher Patrick Mazeika, shortstop Levi Michael and pitchers Nabil Crismatt and Daniel Zamora also made the team from Binghamton. Tebow entered Friday’s 3-2 win over Portland with a slash line of .261/.335/ .398 in 67 games before going 0-for-4 and leaving three runners on base.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said during spring training Tebow would eventually play in the majors. When asked earlier this month about the possibility of being called up, the 30-year old Tebow demurred.
“That’s [Alderson’s] belief and I appreciate his support,” Tebow said. “For me, I’ve always believed in myself and so I’m not going to stop now.”
Whether John Ricco, J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya — the triumvirate currently responsible for making baseball decisions for the Mets after Alderson took a leave of absence for treatment of cancer — agree with Alderson remains to be seen.
Triple-A Las Vegas likely would be a stop between Binghamton and Queens. But after an All-Star nod and a .318/.357/.455 slash line in June, a call-up to Vegas is feasible.
And with the Mets flailing and Tebow being, well, Tebow, it’s possible the big league club soon might call him up. That would undoubtedly be considered a cash grab — despite being an AllStar, Tebow’s OPS is a solid but uninspiring .733 — but it would be hard to blame the Mets for orchestrating a cash grab at this point. They are 32-47 after Friday’s loss, the season all but over in June. Something has to put butts in seats come September.
At least now, the Mets would have a viable excuse.