No, the Mets’ director of merchandising wasn’t responsible for signing Tim Tebow. It just says that in the team’s media guide.
The scout who saw Tebow at the September showcase before the Mets signed him didn’t exactly send back a glowing report, so general manager Sandy Alderson figured that scout wouldn’t want his name attached to Tebow’s bio in the media guide.
“Ultimately, the guy that we put down was the director of merchandising,” the Mets general manager said Friday, according to Newsday, while taking part in the SABR 47 convention’s “A Day at the Ballpark” at Citi Field.
Alderson is starting to come clean on the Tebow signing. The Mets didn’t ink the former quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner because they saw some hidden talent in him. It wasn’t a “baseball decision,” as Alderson said at the time.
“Look, we signed him because he is a good guy, partly because of his celebrity, partly because this is an entertainment business,” Alderson said. “My attitude is ‘Why not?’ ”
The Mets promoted the 29-year-old Tebow to Single-A Port St. Lucie last Sunday, despite his meager .220/.311/.336 slash line with three home runs in 64 games with Single-A Columbia. Alderson told reporters then Tebow’s low chase rates and improving exit velocities were indications he was ready for a higher level.
“I was searching a little bit for some rational explanation for promoting him,” he conceded.
“Actually if you look at some of the more esoteric statistics, he actually does pretty well: He doesn’t really chase [pitches outside the strike zone],” Alderson said. “Some of the fundamental things you are looking for in your player, aside from athleticism and so forth. He has command of the strike zone, power — those are things he can do.”
Tebow has gotten off to a good start with Port St. Lucie, going 5-for-9 with a home run and two RBIs in his first three games.