Red Sox vs. Mets lineup: The one with Tim Tebow

Well, here we go. Tim Tebow — just a regular dude tryin’ to play some gosh-darn ball — is in the New York Mets’ starting lineup for today’s matchup against the Red Sox. He’ll bat eighth, designated-hit, and likely face the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Rick Porcello. What could possibly go wrong?

Anyhow, here’s who the Red Sox will trot out, and who probably are happy not to be under the spotlight during practice games, for once.

1. Marco Hernández, SS
2. Josh Rutledge, 3B
3. Andrew Benintendi, LF
4. Sam Travis, 1B
5. Allen Craig, DH
6. Rusney Castillo*, CF
7. Bryce Brentz, RF
8. Christian Vázquez, C
9. Deven Marrero, 2B

SP: Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello

For what it’s worth, I have no problem with the Tebow experiment. I’ll watch. I just wish he was playing the field. I’d love to watch him fail to get the ball out of his glove as the Sox circled the bases.

Also it’s perhaps noting on the P.R. stunt front that, following Tebow in the lineup, is L.J. Mazzilli, son of Met great Lee Mazzilli. The younger Mazz, drafted by the Mets organization, has been suspended twice for drug violations while nonetheless blazing through the Mets system, no doubt on the strength of his .272/.338/.382 slash line, and by no means because of his famous Mets pedigree. Right. The “problem” of Spring Training PR stunts, such as they are, are so much bigger than Tebow you could write a good book about it.

* Speaking of “Rusney,” this made me laugh:

It’s Spring Training for everyone, fokls.