You Haven't Seen A Display Like This In A While...

((HT: York Revolution their own selves))

The Atlantic League playoffs are going full bore and York needed some offensive help to square their game.

Sean Smith obliged, but something went wrong along the way.
What followed was an act of dedication the HQ hasn't seen in a long time...


The Revs won 2-1 in extras and Smith was due for surgery on his torn ACL before Game 4 Saturday night...

Amazing display and we hope he gets better soon...

McGrady Retires From Baseball After Strike Out

((HT: Sugar Land Skeeters/ESPN))

Tracy McGrady wanted to see if he could be a professional pitcher...

The Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters gave him a shot of figuring out how to do it on the fly. He started four games on pitch counts and even made it to the Atlantic League All-Star Game.

His stats really didn't matter- an ERA of almost 7 in limited innings, but he got his first career strike out...

And promptly retired...


For the record, the trivia question is: Bryan Pounds

Pete Rose Manages In Bridgeport

((HT: WTNH/SportsEdge.com))

For the first time in 25 years, Pete Rose was a manager- but it was in the Atlantic League. Which means, in the rules of baseball, it was fine since the Atlantic League isn't affiliated with Major League Baseball.

He returned to the dugout- although he wasn't in full uniform.
Stephanie Simoni was part of the circus


But Jeff Jacobs in the Hartford Courant makes the normal point where Rose is concerned:

Pete Rose is tone deaf. Just when you think he is in the right place, he says something, or does something that makes you realize he will never really learn. He admits to betting, although he insisted to ESPN he hasn't bet on baseball for a long time. But if he really wanted to show baseball how serious he was about his remorse, why would he live in Las Vegas? Why would he make a deal with a fantasy league called SportsBeep? Pete's about the money.

Coming Soon: Pete Rose Manages For A Day

((HT: Bridgeport Bluefish their own selves))

Pete Rose is returning to managing...

It's not like THAT!!!

The Atlantic League is having him take over for Willie Upshaw for a game June 16th.
He can do that since the Atlantic League isn't affiliated with MLB

Here's the announcement

Post by Bridgeport Bluefish.

The HQ doesn't know how to feel about this...

Train wreck...??? Sad...???

Somewhere in between...

McGrady's Pitching Debut Was 35 Pitches

((HT: ESPN))

Don't be all that alarmed. McGrady was on a pitch count.

The math gave him 35 pitches- 18 strikes and 17 balls- and he ended up giving up 2 earned runs in an inning and two-thirds.
The biggest event was the solo homer he gave up to Somerset Patriots SS Edwin Maysonet


The Sugar Land Skeeters lost 5-3 and McGrady got saddled with the loss.

McGrady Makes Skeeters Roster As Pitcher

((HT: MyFoxHouston))

Tracy McGrady has made the next step in his second career... making the Opening Day roster of the Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters roster...

He had one official appearance in the exhibition season against Alvin (TX) Community College going 1 inning and giving up a run on three hits...

"It's an honor to be a part of this club," McGrady said in a statement. "To be a part of the team means everything to me and it's a dream come true. I look forward to coming to the ballpark not only to play the game, but to be in the clubhouse building camaraderie with these guys. I am excited to start the journey we're going to take this season."

Here's his first workout with the club...
((HT: KBME Radio))


"We are excited about our team this season and having Tracy McGrady as a part of it," Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti said. "We're also excited to see what unique opportunities this could present for us in putting a good product on the field and we look forward to Tracy helping us win some ball games."

The HQ is looking forward to checking in with T-Mac as his adventure continues...

Clemens Throws Another 4 And Two-Thirds... Houston, Hello...???

((HT: ESPN))

Some folks think that Sugar Land Skeeters pitcher Roger Clemens pitched better than he did in his first start last month...

Some folks think he is still a 50 year old trying to figure out if he wants to postpone the idea of getting elected in the Hall of Fame...

His son, Koby, got to catch his dad. And Roger gave up two hits and struck out one along the way in a win over the Long Island Ducks...

Here's some sampling of his handiwork this time around...


Skeeters advisor Tal Smith thinks Clemens can pitch in the majors now, as does his wife Debbie... which, of course, is all the second opinion we need to see him back pitching in one of the Houston Astros last two home stands of the year...

Right...???

Clemens Debuts As A Skeeter

((HT: G4SportsNews))

At the age of 50, Roger Clemens was throwing in the high-80's in the independent Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters...

He even struck out Joey Gathright...
Wait, what...???

OK, kids... do the search engine of your choice to figure it out...

But, for whatever it's worth, Clemens was more than happy to contribute to a crowd of 7,724 (standing room only)... and the Skeeters... well, we don't quite recall what the final score was...

And the Skeeters want it that way...

Here's a pitch or two and a soundbite...

50-Year-Old Roger Clemens In Independent Leagues

((HT: ABC13 Houston))

He's not taking a job from another kid trying to make it to the major leagues... at least, we think he's not for now...

But after throwing for Sugar Land Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti in the high-80's... Roger Clemens is suiting up at the age of 50 for the Independent Atlantic League franchise in Sugar Land, Texas...

Here's the story... in all it's PED-less glory...


And here's what the locals think about it...


The HQ doesn't really have an opinion on it...
We dig the independent leagues and understand the idea that it's all about marketing and putting butts in seats...

And it's no real skin for Clemens except the whole ego thing...
Which is what it's all about in the end...