Advertisement

Tracy McGrady has ways to go before he can consider himself a viable minor league pitcher (Video)

Over the weekend, Mark Townsend of Big League Stew hepped you to the rumors that Jeff Van Gundy decided to tell a national television audience about on Friday night, concerning the future of seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady, who used to work with Van Gundy in Houston. T-Mac, according to the former coach, is reportedly considering an independent league stint as a pitcher, following through on years’ worth of telling media that he always preferred baseball to basketball, despite his 6-8 frame and 30-points per game gifts.

Townsend also relayed these tweets, from KPRC-TV Houston sports director Randy McIlvoy:

Now, thanks to Trey Kerby at The (must watch) Starters, we can reveal some of McGrady’s work from the stretch:

Tracy is obviously hesitant in his release, which has to be of some concern to any minor league team that would want to work him out. Yes, he might be hitting 91 miles per hour in workouts, but if this guy is freezing in the face of what looks like an eight-year old boy, then his mental makeup certainly isn’t major or even minor league material.

Which is a shame, because we love T-Mac, and want him to finish his athletic career on his terms. Unfortunately, with third and fourth grade still in session, afterschool batting practice reps between now and the end of the school year will be hard to come by. Tracy needs to get his game together in the face of the little leaguers before moving on to junior high kids, high schoolers, and then minor league prospects.

McGrady, who turns 36 right around the time the elementary schools will be done for the school year, is running out of time. Maybe Roger Clemens can pay for a computer simulation of sorts, to help his friend overcome a clear fear of winding and delivering the pitch to these kiddies.

We’re behind you all the way, T-Mac.

- - - - - - -

Kelly Dwyer

is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!