T-Mac giving baseball a go

[Remedy360]

Barrett Barnes thinks Tracy McGrady might have something special.

McGrady, trying out as a pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League, threw to stand-in hitters for the first time in a 20-minute bullpen session Monday and impressed, according to a local TV report.

"He's so tall and his arms are so long. His downward slope, you're not going to see that too often," Barnes, a minor league outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, told KRIV-TV. "When you have a presence like that on the mound, it's really hard to settle in and be comfortable hitting."


Barnes, a first-round draft pick for Pittsburgh in 2012, was among the minor league hitters who stood in the batter's box as McGrady threw and said the first-round NBA pick in 1997 could use his length to add perceived speed to his pitches.

"Say his (velocity) is 87, but with his arms and his body, it feels like it's 90-91," said Barnes, according to the Houston Fox affiliate.

"His velo might by lower, but it feels like it gets on you way faster," added Barnes, a Sugar Land native chosen 45th overall in 2012 by the Pirates.

McGrady made seven consecutive All-Star Games from 2001-07. The 6-foot-8 McGrady, a natural right-hander, was drafted out of high school with the ninth overall pick in 1997 by the Toronto Raptors.

McGrady also played for the Rockets, Knicks, Detroit and Atlanta after a six-year stint with the Rockets and was on the Spurs' postseason roster last season. He retired with more than 18,000 points and more than 5,000 rebounds in his career.

Kansas City Royals minor league outfielder Daniel Rockett also felt McGrady's height could work to his advantage.

"With a dude that big it's like he's in the box with you," Rockett said, according to KRIV-TV.

Mike and Mike

Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady comments on his choice to pursue a baseball career, his pitching, working with Roger Clemens, concentrating on basketball in college and more.

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McGrady has been working with Arizona Diamondbacks pro scout Scipio Spinks and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.

McGrady said he has taken in a great deal already from the veterans.

"(Spinks) taught me a lot, mechanics, and just a lot of things I didn't know about pitching, and I'm using that to my advantage," McGrady said.

"I also have Roger Clemens out here. What better person to have teaching you some things about pitching than Roger Clemens?"

Spinks said facing the stand-in hitters was key for McGrady in his development, according the report, and would live hitting next week.

"It gives him a gauge to see where he's at," Spinks said. "Just to let us know if he's going to back off if there are hitters at the plate, which he didn't. As a matter of fact he said that 'I want them to know I'm a little wild.' "

[DJ SUGAFREE QUIK]

Well I wish T-Mac luck.  Hopefully he can be the next Dennis Eckersley.  A player who was mainly known as a great relief pitcher.  When I saw him play in the early 80's he was an average pitcher for the cubs.

[Sccit]

so he's jumpin from the nba to the independent baseball league...then next would be minor league, and i'm assuming the ultimate goal is the majors? any chance he gets anywhere close??

[Remedy360]

so he's jumpin from the nba to the independent baseball league...then next would be minor league, and i'm assuming the ultimate goal is the majors? any chance he gets anywhere close??

Nah, it'd be dope but I don't see how he could. At this point he's only trying out for an independent team, so that's not even a guarantee. Just being able to stick around with them and have some success would be a great accomplishment. Apparently he was a good pitcher in high school but he's been all basketball since the 90's and he's gonna be going up against guys that live and breath that shit. He's obviously an incredibly gifted athlete but is way out of his prime in that respect. Not that all good pitchers are great athletes, but it definitely helps. Anyways, it sucks how quickly his b-ball career went down the shitter, would be cool if he could make something out of this.

[Ghost Drebin]

Maybe if he were left handed....really hard for someone that tall to have consistent mechanics.