Tim Tebow is beginning his professional baseball career at 29 years old, so the New York Mets can exercise only so much patience in seeing what they have. Its a baseball judgment they claim theyll make internally, with no preconceived notions and minimal regard for public perception.I think this will run its natural course, general manager Sandy Alderson said on a conference call Thursday. Were mindful of the fact that Tim is starting this endeavor at age 29, and theres a certain amount of realism we have to accept. But were not really thinking about that. Were thinking about the beginning of journey and not the end. So heres where Tebows baseball journey begins, with an understanding that no one really knows where it might lead:? Sept. 18: Tebow will report to the Mets instructional league team in Port St. Lucie, Forida, where hell take part in three weeks of baseball activities with much younger prospects who are also in the incipient phase of professional ball.? Fall 2016: After that, the Mets have several options available. They can send Tebow to the Arizona Fall League, where Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and so many other elite prospects have played over the years. They can continue his development with a winter league team in Latin America, or keep him in Port St. Lucie in a more structured environment with an emphasis on individual instruction.? February 2017: Tebow will head to spring training, but the Mets have made no commitments to invite him to big-league camp.? April 2017: The big step will come when Tebow joins a minor-league affiliate and rides the buses, faces changeups and curveballs, and gets his first taste of handling the failure that scouts predict will be the ultimate test for him.Given the novel nature of Tebows pursuit, the Mets are making up the rules on the fly.There is no instruction manual on how to best slot an almost-30 Heisman Trophy owner into your minor league depth chart, so theyll have to determine how aggressively they want to push him through their system.They could start him off at, say, Columbia of the low-A South Atlantic League to help him acclimate to the daily grind and gain confidence. If they go this route and Tebow hits .120 in Class A ball, he might be out of baseball by next summer.Given his age, they could also opt to throw him into the deep end of the pool against better competition and let him fend for himself. If the Mets send him to Double A and he holds his own in the upper levels of the minors, the idea of Tim Tebow one day putting on a major league uniform might no longer be just a fantasy.Its too early for the Mets to make that determination, but Alderson said the organization will try to strike a balance between giving Tebow a chance to succeed while simultaneously challenging him to get better - and given the urgency to set this path in motion, these conversations will have to start soon.Theres going to be a little bit of rust, Alderson said. Theres going to be a need for instruction and development. I understand this isnt a typical one-off where we evaluate the tools and make a judgment. We understand that he hasnt been around the game for a while. We understand that hes 29 years old. And we understand that hes a tremendous competitor and will be a role model for the players in our system.Tebow encountered some questions about his commitment level Thursday when Alderson revealed that he will be leaving the instructional league for a couple of days each week to continue his work as an SEC Network football analyst for ESPN. Tebow confronted the issue head on during the conference call.Its something Ive committed to do, Tebow said. For me, when I commit to do something, its my word. Its more than a contract, because its my integrity and its who I am.During the week, Ill be training as hard as I can. Like Mr. Alderson said, youve got to take a break every now and then. One day a week will give me a chance to rest up and get back at it the next day. I dont really view it as not taking this seriously. Then again, I dont have to listen to listen to what everybody else says. I just get to go and do what I said I was going to do. 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Travis Lakins Red Sox Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane flashed a million-dollar smile in the photo opp, beaming from behind a table topped by the troika of hefty awards he skated off with to cap a sublime season.Chicagos 27-year-old star forward broke away with the Hart Trophy as the NHLs MVP, the Art Ross as the leading scorer and the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the NHLs outstanding player by fellow skaters.Missing conspicuously from silverware haul on the opening day of the Blackhawks annual fan convention was the Stanley Cup, the championship Chicago failed to defend last spring after winning it in 2010, 2013 and 2015.Despite a first-round, seven-game playoff exit against St. Louis last April, the Blackhawks say theyre ready for another run at the Cup with a revised, younger roster. The NHLs salary cap, set at $73 million for next season, once again forced GM Stan Bowman to trim key players, most notably forwards Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen.Bowman thinks his kids, and team, will be all right. He expects top prospects, who skated in a camp in Chicago this week, to jump in and fill in several spots, especially at forward alongside stars such as Kane, Jonathan Toews and Artemi Panarin, last years Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year.No worries for coach Joel Quenneville, either.Im very comfortable with it, Quenneville said. I see more depth on our team. I see more speed on our team.Bowman said the prospect camp, which ended on Friday, was the best weve had in terms of the caliber of player and level of play.The GM called out forwards Tanner Kero, Vincent Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman, who have played just a handful of NHL games, as exceptional.Theyve taken their game to another level, Bowman said. You can put Tyler Motte and Nick Schmaltz in there.Motte and Schmaltz, collegiate scoring stars last season, signed contracts with the Blackhawks last spring and left Michigan and North Dakota early. Schmaltz, a sophomore with the NCAA champ Fighting Hawks, said he sensed a real chance.I think Im at the point in my game where Im confident and ready to take this jump and do everything to make the NHL next year, said the rangy 20-year-old center.I think theres a good feeling all around in that theres oppoortunity that might not have been there in the past, said Hartman, a 21-year-old right wing.dddddddddddd Its kind of a good time to be here. All of the prospects are the same boat, trying to earn a spot.Bowman insists he isnt handing anything out.I think its dangerous to try to label guys to fill a role, he said. One thing I told all those guys, Im not sure which of you is going to make the team, but dont make that decision easy for us.Things are clearer on defense, where lack of depth hurt Chicago last season. Bowman signed free agent Brian Campbell to a bargain $2 million, one-year deal earlier this month to eat up minutes alongside Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson.Campbell is 37, but the mobile defenseman led Florida last season with 22:16 of ice time per game and a plus-31. A member of Chicagos 2010 Cup team, Campbell says he feels great and has plenty left in the tank.Hes getting better with age and Im excited about what he brings to our team, Quenneville said. I think in the last couple of years, hes taken his game to a new level.Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, 24, did the same last season, staying healthy and playing all 82 games with the Blackhawks. Chicago also added 25-year-old Czech free agent Michal Kempny over the summer. Journeyman Michal Rozsival is back and Bowman has been impressed with 20 year-old Swede Gustav Forsling and 22-year-old Finn Ville Pokka.Regardless of who makes their team and where they finish, the Blackhawks will be a lot younger.It looks like we have some really good young talent that can come in and and step in right away, Kane said. I think thats something thats going to be big for us.Game notes Marian Hossa, 37, had only 13 goals last season, but said hes ready for whatever role Quenneville gives him. Hossa, who has 499 career goals, also is looking forward to skating for Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey this September. Im sure the tempo is going to be so high, so when you come to training camp youre just going to feel like youre playing in a pickup league or something, he said. ' ' '