The Gyroball: Does it exist?
 

It sounds like a wicked pitch if it's real. Supposedly Dice-K has this pitch in his arsenal. I have my doubts that it's real. Here's the basics:

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

It's a pitch developed by a couple of physicists and supposedly taught to a few Japanese players. Interesting read.

I've never heard of it, but then, I don't follow baseball in Japan.

From the description, it sounds a bit like a screwball, but when a right-handed pitcher throws a screwball, it will run in on a right-handed batter and away from a left-handed batter.

Did you read the link? I'm trying to picture how a guy's arm could move toward 3rd base on the follow through instead of across his body. I can't imagine how any power would be generated.

I think we'll be hearing a lot about it as the opening day approaches.

Hey ilpad, check out the front page of CNN tonight. There's a video report analyzing the gyroball. I know you'll find that interesting.

Very cool find, Steel, thanks for that.

Here's what I noticed about it: it is thrown like a side-arm pitch. The difference is in the release position of the wrist. The pitcher grips the ball as usual but instead of the wrist being at a 90 degree angle to the arm, it is at a 180 degree angle. That is, the hand extends in the same direction as the arm.

When the ball is released, the follow through doesn't come across the body because of the positioning of the wrist. Think of how when you throw a frisbee with a side-arm action from your throwing side rather than across your body and that's pretty much how a guy would throw this pitch.

I can see how this would be an effective pitch because it doesn't have the usual top spin on it. Throwing it the way it is on the video in that link, you can see the ball having more of a backspin on it to make it rise. It would be really tough to see in the batters box because the spin isn't what a guy is used to seeing.

Very cool pitch.

According to last week's Sports Illustrated, Dice-K denied that he has this pitch. He says he has eight pitches in his arsenal but the gyroball isn't one of them.

Interesting. He's trying to not show all his cards.

Still, 8 pitches? Yikes. That is a hitter's nightmare.

Dug last weeks SI out of the garbage:

Wow. Too many signals for a catcher like me to have to remember if that guy is pitching. :)

On SportsCenter a couple nights ago they showed Varitek's wristband that he wears to remember all the different pitches and signals. It also included some English to Japanese phrases for conferences at the mound. The wristband is ginormous, reaching halfway down his arm.