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

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...

Tracy McGrady Ready For Live Pitching

((HT: MyFoxHouston))

And, no, the HQ doesn't mean that in some metaphorical sense...

The Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent baseball leagues have taken a flyer on Tracy McGrady as a pitcher for the upcoming season. He was pitching to an independent baseballer who was told just to stand there and not swing...

T-Mac was graded with a fastball in the high 80's without any real formal training...
But when you're 6-8, things look a little more intimidating than it really may be...

Here's the look at Day One of a new career...
Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Next up- dudes who will swing...

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...

Is Roger Clemens coming back with the Astros?

((ht: myfoxhouston.com))

Well, the thought of Roger Clemens coming back to pitch for the Houston Astros has at least been discussed.

We know this because Astros owner Jim Crane admitted as much to Fox 26 TV in Houston on Thursday.

Crane says he and his staff are preparing for the possibility the multiple Cy Young winning 50-year old shows up on the mound at Minute Maid Park. Though Crane says he'll "Have extensive discussions with Major League Baseball" before he pulls the trigger.

Oh, he also made it a point to say "This isn't a Publicity Stunt".

Yeah...sure it isn't.

Read the entire story from MyFoxHouston.com RIGHT HERE

Clemens will pitch for the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday and no, he isn't denying the talk. He thinks if it goes well, it "Could lead to bigger things", things he says he'll discuss later. 

Crane just basically confirmed the speculation by opening his pie hole. And since his Astros are by a LARGE margin the worst team in baseball and closing in on worst team in history territory, they've got nothing to lose. It sure sounds like he's planning on doing this...unless Clemens looks terrible on Saturday.

Why not trot out a 50-year old legend who can still throw in the mid 80's and see if he can put some butts in seats? Crane says most of the money will go to local charities which is nice, but it is still all about getting attention. Attention for his woebegone franchise and more importantly, a chance to provide Clemens an opportunity to rehab his image. (Unless he gets shelled)

Stay tuned, we're guessing this story will be around awhile.

Here's a story on Clemens's re-emergence from CBS News (because Fox doesn't believe in video on their websites)

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...