(02-27-2019 12:39 PM)mrbig Wrote: Two years of in-game evidence is more valuable then Aardsma's impressions from 5 simulated at-bats. He's a big, strong, athletic guy with a good work ethic. If he had played baseball in college and his early professional career, maybe he would have had a chance. But starting his baseball career at 29 as a hitter is pretty tough, because as a batter, he is literally thousands of at-bats behind other guys on the developmental curve.
I think one can credibly argue that Tebow hasn't been a complete disaster as a baseball player. He hasn't embarrassed himself. But after 2 seasons, he isn't any kind of prospect and hasn't made the kind of adjustments he needs to make. And at 31, he's entering his physical decline (for baseball players). If he wasn't famous outside of baseball, he never would have been promoted through the minors like he has.
OK. I think I can agree with the gist of what you're saying. Still, I really didn't think he'd make it this far for the reasons you mentioned in paragraph 1. But I think because of your first 2 sentences in paragraph 2, he was able to be promoted, unlike, say for instance Michael Jordan, who never made it past AA in his "hiatus" from Basketball. Jordan was a player who arguably had more natural physical talent than Tebow, and certainly had more of the promotional/marketing effect you previously mentioned. But he stalled with the AA Birmingham Barons, if I remember it correctly.
I guess you could argue Jordan kinda knew he'd be back playing with the Bulls after a time-out, and perhaps didn't apply himself with 100% effort like Aardsma was saying Tebow was (and Tebow doesn't seem to have at least an NFL shot anymore, although there certainly seem to be other lesser pro football leagues he'd get a paycheck for his abilities at their level of competition.). Then again, Jordan didn't make his HS Varsity team because of wek free-throw shooting and so he redoubled his efforts and discipline to shore up the weak areas of his game, so I'm not sure it was ever in Jordan to "tank" at anything much athletic--I think he gave it as much all as Tebow is purported to.
So, yeah, I agree with the 'Aardsma only 5 at bats' angle, but then again, Aardsma did pitch in the Majors several years (2004-2015) and Law didn't, so it seems like their overall knowledge bases are from somewhat different perspectives.
BTW, to refresh what many here already likely know, Here's what Law's Baseball reference page says:
Keith Law
Positions: Shortstop, Relief Pitcher and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-2, 165lb (188cm, 74kg)
Born: January 12, 1977 (Age: 42-046d) in Marietta, GA us
Draft: Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 1995 MLB June Amateur Draft from East Paulding HS (Dallas, GA) and the Detroit Tigers in the 30th round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft from Georgia Perimeter College (Covington, GA).
Full Name: Keith Zachary Law
Code:
Teams Played For: Keith Law
Year Age Tm Lg Lvl Parent Club
1998 21 Jamestown Jammers NY-Penn League A- DET
1999 22 Oneonta Tigers NY-Penn League A- DET
2000 23 Oneonta Tigers NY-Penn League A- DET
2000 23 West Michigan Whitecaps Midwest League A DET
2001 24 Evansville Otters Frontier League Ind