Doc Gooden Says He Loves Tim Tebow But I Would've Eaten Him Alive!

Doc Gooden says he's a huge Tim Tebow fan -- but the kid wouldn't have a chance in hell if the two ever faced off on the baseball field ... says the NY Mets legend himself.

We spoke with Dr. K at Miami Mike's Sports Zone in Jersey Wednesday night -- and he raved about how cool it was to see Tebow jack a dinger in his first instructional league at bat.

"Amazing," Doc said ... "Only downside to that -- it's downhill from there. You don't get any better."

Gooden also called Tebow an "inspiration." But who wins in a Gooden vs. Tebow at bat?

"I'm a Tim Tebow fan, don't get me wrong, but he wouldn't have a chance."

"In my prime, I think I would eat him alive."

True.