Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

[SPTO]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Hmm I see, I guess we'll all tell for sure come '07 if he indeed suits up for the BoSox.

[mjb2124]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Yeah it's really hard to tell much from 2 video clips that show the pitch thrown 2 times by 2 different pitchers.

I'll definitely be interested to see more though. Even better would be able to step into the box and see it live!

[NYJets]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

I thought it was just a myth that he throws a "gyroball."

[Stu]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

I thought it was just a myth that he throws a "gyroball."

No, people just confused the gyroball with another pitch that looks like a screwball. From what I understand the gyroball has the same type of movement as a cut fastball (moves in on LH and away from RH) and is thrown with the same arm speed but is much slower.

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

[CMH]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

I think people are placing a little bit too much emphasis on the "marketing in Asia" for reason's why the Red Sox are willing to pay so much. On the list of things to consider here, I bet that is past numbers 4 and 5 on reasons to do this.

The biggest reason, in my opinion, is the ability to get a 26 year old MLB ready starter who has the capability to be a number one starter, without giving up ANY talent. That is the lure here. They are just giving up money here. It's not my money, so I think this is great.

I don't think anyone thinks it's the number one reason.

It's just an explanation as to why $42 million isn't too much to them. They'll make the money back in Asia.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

The video of the high school kid is too far away to really see much, but it looked like a big curveball to me.

Yeah it sure did to me as well... Just looked like a slow looping curveball that would be easy to crush if you waited on it...

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Don't forget he's bringing the gyroball to the US...whether that's a good or bad thing.

One of the videos of Matsuzaka really shows a cutter - the video shown from the batter's perspective.

The most common video from behind him shows what looks like a Vulcan Changeup with a little spin on it. Seems to behave something like Gagne's version but with a little bit of a screwball tail.

So far I've seen nothing that looks like a gyroball and Matsuzaka has even said that he doesn't throw the pitch.

[Dispatch]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

25 minutes till the press conference. I'm actually pretty excited because if the Red Sox get him it's like getting the best pitcher in the free agent market. Plus he's only 26 years old and will be entering his prime, and depending on the length of the contract that he'll sign should be here with Beckett, Papelbon, and Lester .

[UMass03]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Early talk is that Boras is shooting for a three year deal so he'll be clear at the age of 29 for his next big deal

[Misfit]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

It is now official as reported by NESN and confirmed by MLB and the Red Sox. No mention of money.

[Sandman42]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

No, people just confused the gyroball with another pitch that looks like a screwball. From what I understand the gyroball has the same type of movement as a cut fastball (moves in on LH and away from RH) and is thrown with the same arm speed but is much slower.

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

Yeah, the gyroball was confused with the shuuto pitch that some pitchers use in Japan, that is similar to a screwball, but faster and with less break. I believe it was Will Carroll that confused the gyroball with the shuuto when he was teaching it to his pitchers.

I also remember Matsuzaka saying he was still working on throwing the gyroball after the WBC. So I don't think he's mastered the pitch yet, so who knows if he will throw it.

[Dispatch]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

51.1 Million for the winnning bid . Glad its not my money, but it shows how much the Red Sox wanted this guy and they feel that he is worth it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2662193

[bravosfan]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

$51 million? Wow.

[skitch]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Good God. Let's see how much he'll get if they manage to sign him.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Here's the thread on Matsuzaka I made over a year ago.

http://forums.operationsports.com/vB...light=gyroball

It looks like I was wrong about the 5-6 million a season figure, LOL.

For his age, he has thrown a lot of innings. I'm not too worried about it though. With the amount of money the Red Sox paid just to get the rights to talk to him, there's no doubt he will be pitching at Fenway next season. I believe he will live up to the hype.

The Red Sox starting pitching is very impressive on paper.

You got Schilling, Papelbon, Matsuzaka, Beckett, and Wakefield.