The Gyroball. Does it exist?

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Read the link, it is kind of random, but this guy coming to the USA next season might throw it, and it could be a nasty pitch. Nobody really knows if it will work or if it exists, but it could be a revolutionary new pitch.

BoSox34 · July 17, 2006

I read that earlier, pretty interesting, any chance we go after him in the offseason? Usually we aren't bidders for overseas stars (Ichiro, Matsui).

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

apparently Yankees and Mariners are leading the way, as usual

ORS · July 17, 2006

I think the gyroball is just another name for a screwball. The arm action is the same - an inside rotation of the forearm.

yankeessuck013 · July 17, 2006

Here's Matsuzaka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAwmW2S-xX4&eurl=

If you're watching this, 147 km is about 94 mph or so.

But, Matsuzaka is not a free agent until 2008 and cannot sign with a MLB team unless the Lions decide to post him, and the rumors say they don't want to.

BTW, when he is posted, each team in MLB will offer a bid sealed in an enevelope and the highest bidder gets to negotiate a deal with him

Here's Matsuzaka stats from 2006:

ERA 2.03 (2nd in the league)

W-L: 10-2 (2nd)

K: 114 (1st)

Innings pitched: 102

He is only 24.

But, Scott Boras is his agent and if there is anyone that can get him posted before 2008 than Boras is the one to do it.

It will probably take a bid of $20 Mil.+ just to get him to work out for the Sox, or any other team for that matter.

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

I heard he will be here next season,

it was in a Yahoo article previewing the free agents for the offseason

MC Hammer · July 17, 2006

Like ONS said it's just a screwball. I don't really understand the excitement about this pitch ... if I started calling my curveball the CYCLONEBALL would I get signed?

Mr Crunchy · July 17, 2006

screw balls are a hard pitch to master

perhaps the hardest due the unnatural arm angle

the last good screwball pitcher i saw in the majors was fernando valenzuela

bill campbell used to throw a good one and dennis boyd was known to use it from time to time

its very rare

MC Hammer · July 17, 2006

screw balls are a hard pitch to master
perhaps the hardest due the unnatural arm angle
the last good screwball pitcher i saw in the majors was fernando valenzuela
bill campbell used to throw a good one and dennis boyd was known to use it from time to time
its very rare

It may be a hard pitch to master but it doesn't mean it's any harder to hit than any other pitch. Any hitter that has ever seen a cutter from a lefty will be seeing roughly the same pitch. Not to mention that it's completely obvious when it's coming becuase of the arm motion. Good hitters will light that pitch up ... theres no deception at all.

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

a high school kid who was not a great prospect got the thing to break 3 feet. If someone with great control got a hold of this pitch, they would dominate

Mr Crunchy · July 17, 2006

It may be a hard pitch to master but it doesn't mean it's any harder to hit than any other pitch. Any hitter that has ever seen a cutter from a lefty will be seeing roughly the same pitch. Not to mention that it's completely obvious when it's coming becuase of the arm motion. Good hitters will light that pitch up ... theres no deception at all.

the hard part about hitting the screw ball is you never see them

as i said

the last pitcher to master it in the majors has been out of the league for 15 years

like the knuckler,the screw ball is a pitch that hitters just dont see and if a pitcher can throw it consistantly for strikes its trouble

rician blast · July 17, 2006

The article states:

"Ideally thrown, the gyroball should resemble a fat pitch, then take a sweeping turn away from a right-handed hitter. It's a slider on steroids, a cut fastball with science behind it, a testament to the aerodynamics of a baseball. "

Matsuzka is a RIGHTY....if this pitch is delivered similarly to a screwball it would bend IN TOWARD a righty, not away from him. Am I missing something here or is this article a piece of s***?

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

its probably crap, but you never know

26 Reasons to Hate Us · July 17, 2006

The article states:

"Ideally thrown, the gyroball should resemble a fat pitch, then take a sweeping turn away from a right-handed hitter. It's a slider on steroids, a cut fastball with science behind it, a testament to the aerodynamics of a baseball. "

Matsuzka is a RIGHTY....if this pitch is delivered similarly to a screwball it would bend IN TOWARD a righty, not away from him. Am I missing something here or is this article a piece of s***?

Maybe that's the difference between a screwball and a gyroball?:dunno:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroball

The gyroball is the name given to a breaking baseball pitch purported to be used by players in Japan. The pitch was developed by two Japanese researchers, Ryutaro Himeno and Kazushi Tezuka, who used computer simulations to create a new style of delivery intended to reduce stress on the pitcher. At the point of release, instead of having the pitcher's arm move inwards towards the body (the standard method used in the United States), the pitcher rotates his arm so that it moves away from his body. The unusual method of delivery creates a bullet-like spin on the ball, or like a bicycle tire spins when facing the spokes. When thrown by a right hander, the pitch moves sharply down and away from right handed batters and towards left handed batters.

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

Here's Matsuzaka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAwmW2S-xX4&eurl=

If you're watching this, 147 km is about 94 mph or so.

But, Matsuzaka is not a free agent until 2008 and cannot sign with a MLB team unless the Lions decide to post him, and the rumors say they don't want to.

BTW, when he is posted, each team in MLB will offer a bid sealed in an enevelope and the highest bidder gets to negotiate a deal with him

Here's Matsuzaka stats from 2006:
ERA 2.03 (2nd in the league)
W-L: 10-2 (2nd)
K: 114 (1st)
Innings pitched: 102

He is only 24.

But, Scott Boras is his agent and if there is anyone that can get him posted before 2008 than Boras is the one to do it.

It will probably take a bid of $20 Mil.+ just to get him to work out for the Sox, or any other team for that matter.

good video, that gyroball has ALOT of movement. Id love to see Matsuzaka signed by the Sox. He might be the best pitcher to come out of Japan.

Also, what is 150km equal to in mph?

rician blast · July 17, 2006

Maybe that's the difference between a screwball and a gyroball?:dunno:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroball

The gyroball is the name given to a breaking baseball pitch purported to be used by players in Japan. The pitch was developed by two Japanese researchers, Ryutaro Himeno and Kazushi Tezuka, who used computer simulations to create a new style of delivery intended to reduce stress on the pitcher. At the point of release, instead of having the pitcher's arm move inwards towards the body (the standard method used in the United States), the pitcher rotates his arm so that it moves away from his body. The unusual method of delivery creates a bullet-like spin on the ball, or like a bicycle tire spins when facing the spokes. When thrown by a right hander, the pitch moves sharply down and away from right handed batters and towards left handed batters.

Well clearly a screwball thrown by a righty pitcher tails inward to a right batter...this thing does the opposite. The passage above better describes the motion...the pitcher's arm moves away from his body meaning he is spinning the ball the same way as a slider, just with different arm motion.

Not sure how hard you could throw it, though, with the arm flying out toward third base.

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

about 96 MPH Beckettt95

by the way, the Yankees and Mariners are already showing interest with Boras

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

the gyroball is pretty much a curveball which puts less strain on the pitchers arm.

http://www.robneyer.com/book_04_gyroball.html

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

but it breaks to the side, not really down from what ive seen

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

by the way, the Yankees and Mariners are already showing interest with Boras

Ive also read that the Angels and Red Sox have interest in him

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/08/mlb_deep_2006_f.html

So basically Matsuzaka could end up in the Major Leagues anytime between 2006 and 2008. It is known that he wants to come to the U.S. He'll probably sign with one of three teams with significant Japanese connections: the Yankees, Mariners, or Red Sox.

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

really, well I would be happy have him, we just usually dont sign Japanese guys out of japan

26 Reasons to Hate Us · July 17, 2006

Ive also read that the Angels and Red Sox have interest in him

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/08/mlb_deep_2006_f.html

The Red Sox have significant Japanese ties? I find that kind of odd considering they almost never sign any japanese players..

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

I think, just like Contreras, that the Yanks sign Matsuzaka. And I dont think that he will suck in NY like Contreras did.

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

The Red Sox have significant Japanese ties? I find that kind of odd considering they almost never sign any japanese players..

Ya I also found that odd to

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

theres the actual gyroball being thrown by Matsuzaka. Absolutely filthy

Papelbon58 · July 17, 2006

see, that isnt even the pitch the article described, the Yahoo might be crap, but that still is a great pitch

Beckett95 · July 17, 2006

he also has a nasty 87 mph slider, slurve thing. Thats what I though the gyroball was at first. That last video makes the gyroball look like a 91 mph screwball/splitter. Still nasty.

26 Reasons to Hate Us · July 17, 2006

this is a nice clip too:

It's slo-mo so you can see the rotation of the ball..

BoSox34 · July 17, 2006

I really hope we sign this guy if the price is right, a little coaching and major league adjustments could turn this guy into a legit middle of the rotation starter. That pitch is money and something that ML batters aren't used to.

RoyNHSox · July 17, 2006

The Red Sox have significant Japanese ties? I find that kind of odd considering they almost never sign any japanese players..

Actually the Sox have developed a relationship with Japan over the past few years as evidenced in their affiliation with the Hawaiian Winter League. Here’s a quote from a Yahoo Sports article that came out earlier this month.

The revived four-team league will use mostly Single-A and Double-A players from the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, as well as young professionals from Japan and South Korea.

Unlike the previous league where the teams were spread across four islands, the new teams will be based on Oahu, at the request of Major League Baseball, to cut travel costs and assist scouts.

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