Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Once the off-season kicks into high gear I expect the Daisuke Matsuzuka sweepstakes to begin.

Under the Japan baseball system you need 10 years of service time to become a UFA so he would have to go through the posting system to come to MLB.

He already has 4 MLB quality pitchers. He even throws a gyroball. Nobody in MLB history has thrown that pitch before.

He's 24 years old and was excellent vs. the MLB all-stars last year. I saw him pitch in the Olympics and I was really impressed.

Any team that's prepared to offer pitchers like Burnett/Washburn/Millwood/Morris 4yr/48+ mil deals might be better off going after Matsuzuka who probably wouldn't command anything more than 5-6 mil a season.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

mind elaborating on a gyroball

[Beantown]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

Will his picture become your next avatar once he signs?

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

mind elaborating on a gyroball

The best description I have is from Will Carroll:

"...the short version is that instead of using the linear kinetic chain that’s the subject of American research, the Japanese attempt to coordinate two circular motions...the ball comes at the hitter looking like a hanging curve and then takes a hard, flat turn away from a right-handed batter."

[Skerik]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

More info here.

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

And video here.

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/10/daisuke_matsuza.html

His key will be not how his "gyroball" works, but how good his other pitches are. Nomo was unhittable his first time through the league, but once hitters learned to lay off the splitter and wait for something they could handle, his other pitches just weren't good enough to keep hitters honest.

It'll also be interesting what kind of workload and career longevity he has, given that he's basically been worked to death during his career in Japan and throws a weird pitch that has unmeasured effect on the human arm....

[highlight_reel]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

If he's that good, the Mets or Yankees will sign him. I hope for the Mets, because I need to see a gryoball, whatever that is.

[BigRed]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

More info here.

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

And video here.

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/10/daisuke_matsuza.html

His key will be not how his "gyroball" works, but how good his other pitches are. Nomo was unhittable his first time through the league, but once hitters learned to lay off the splitter and wait for something they could handle, his other pitches just weren't good enough to keep hitters honest.

It'll also be interesting what kind of workload and career longevity he has, given that he's basically been worked to death during his career in Japan and throws a weird pitch that has unmeasured effect on the human arm....

Wow!!! What a great pitch!!!!

I couldn't even see it after it left his hand!!! And that was in super-slo-mo!!!








Is there a better video?

[dkgojackets]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

wow that looks cool

[CWood2]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

The best description I have is from Will Carroll:

"...the short version is that instead of using the linear kinetic chain that’s the subject of American research, the Japanese attempt to coordinate two circular motions...the ball comes at the hitter looking like a hanging curve and then takes a hard, flat turn away from a right-handed batter."

My buddy emails Will Carroll all the time and the guy is pretty amazing at getting back to him and helping him as a pitcher. He's going to be out in Indiana pretty soon to visit some friends and wants to meet up with Carroll to learn how to throw that pitch. When he asked how much he charges for that type of stuff, he just told him to spread the word about Prospectus and his column. Pretty cool guy...

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

My buddy emails Will Carroll all the time and the guy is pretty amazing at getting back to him and helping him as a pitcher. He's going to be out in Indiana pretty soon to visit some friends and wants to meet up with Carroll to learn how to throw that pitch. When he asked how much he charges for that type of stuff, he just told him to spread the word about Prospectus and his column. Pretty cool guy...

Carroll does great work for BP but I'm not sure if I would want him to tinker with my mechanics if I was a pitcher. I pretty sure he doesn't have any professional experience.

This is strange as Rob Neyer being a guest instructor on how to become a MLB GM and scout.

I would never pay Neyer to help me in a quest to become a GM. He has no experience.

[edge32]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

I couldn't tell anything from the video but it sounds cool

[CWood2]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

Carroll does great work for BP but I'm not sure if I would want him to tinker with my mechanics if I was a pitcher. I pretty sure he doesn't have any professional experience.

This is strange as Rob Neyer being a guest instructor on how to become a MLB GM and scout.

I would never pay Neyer to help me in a quest to become a GM. He has no experience.

Carroll is definitely a saber geek, but he also does pitching lessons and supposedly is the only guy who teaches that pitch in this hemisphere! My friend's already sent him a video tape of himself on the mound and he broke it down for him pretty good. It really just complimented what he gets from his coaches, but it was pretty insightful. Also, my friend is 6'10", and Carroll has coached the 7'2" closer from Notre Dame...mechanics can break down pretty easy at that size, so he's got experience with it which is important.

[SPTO]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

Wish there was a better video but based on that description....WOW!

If this guy has a couple other good pitchers then he's gonna be dangerous and at his young age he could pick up on how to set up batters and use the Gyro as an out pitch.

Too bad the Jays don't have the scouting or money for a player like that. (they have the money but doubt JP would make such a risk)

[elicoleman]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

Maybe Matsui can convince him to sign with the Yanks.

[Stoud]

Re: Best FA Pitcher isn't even in MLB right now

Maybe Matsui can convince him to sign with the Yanks.

Do you have any idea how offensive that sounds?

It sounds like you're saying that "maybe because Matsui is Japanese he can convince another Japanese player to play for a certain team". You should never say "maybe because so and so is japanese..." about anything. Just like you'd never say "maybe because he's black he'll be able to convince his black friends to play".

I know you probably didn't mean it like this, but the statement was worded in a very inappropriate racist way. Just thought I'd mention that.