Dissecting Matsuzaka, 2007

Dissecting Matsuzaka The former Japanese superstar sports a $103 million arm and a stunning array of pitches, and the Globe sought some analysis from Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell and Matsuzaka's pitching coach in the World Haseball Classic. Yoshitaka Katori, to help break down the righthander's priceless repertoire. Graphic by Dalge Fuiwara and Javier Zaracina, Giobe Statf SOX FASTBALLS Four-seamer As the basbal otates botom to top, al four seams touch the air suface Agmba equally Spton catcher's tat Cutter Two-seamer port of BREAKING BALLS High B0s to Mevement: Movement: Despite being descrbed Baimlnt a lus less movement than any other pitch. He can deliver itanywhere andit taps off arcurd 97mah A fastball with Bl'as Slider movement, he did not thewte Japan, but says the rased sem on baebals used m the US oeates away rom ightander Uses the same arm ation as hs ether fastbals but a igh st Movement The sideris knon as his signature out phch, and he's ber theowingit since high school Drops slightly asit approaches the plate Depending on the relese, the two-seamer can also bea shuuto". a pitch that moves irto arighthanded Ner. diferent grp utilaes the sean to add angle to the spin more movenent. Hard slider Curve Mevement: Starts out straight and bresks down and avay tom righthander. Changeup Forkball very lete spin Lietle spin When thrown hard, movement snuch ghter. Hh s The crde change- making a circle with your thumb and index finger -has aless em Movement: 100 Baltreds The ballis held deep between the He doesnt throw a curve chen, but Can se dierent angles to trck the Mtter. down and Me s to away hrom rghehancen ge and thus less velocity. Lew te mid 80s indes and miode ingers. and rdeasad wthvery itle spn Mevement: Dives down and e on ngvhander. Uses the same arm actionas tastbals, but becaseits 15 mph. slower, the htter is deceived. Mevement: Comes straght n then suddenly dvesinant of the plate Movement: Sweeping a goes way fom righthander. WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT ABOUT THE 'GYROBALL?" Baseball's Loch Ness Monster Why is Matsuzaka TUCEN associated with the pitch? THE RED SOX' ARMORY The gyroball was introduced in Japan in the late '90s in a series of books witen by Kanushi Teruka, a former Matsuzaka now says he doesn't throw Each starter can put alittle diffenent spin on the pitches in his arsenal. the mythical pitch, but he does have trainer, and Ryutaro Himeno, an engineer. It became more well known by comic book character Goro Shigeno. some pitches that share characteristics of the gyroball. Spin: A slow motion video clip on the Internet showed a pitch with the k ity The book describes the pitch having a bullet-lke soin, much ke a quarterback's spiral pass with the axis facing the catcher. Te bullet-like spin thrown by MatuIzaka, by Tekaand athough it did not appear to drop. He leter said the spin on that pitch was a variation of his cut fastball, which does not have a late, exaggerated movement. Julian Tavarez This urban legend was furthered Curt Schilling RHP, 40 Fasbal h Josh Beckett Daisuke Tim Wakefield when rumors elaimed the gyroball makes a late, ekaggorated movement. Matsuraka RHP, 26 In any case, there is no consensus about what the cyrobal is, or even if it exists. Movement: At the beginning of spring training in Fort Myers, hitters for the Florida Marlins elaimed to have faced Fastal 94-97 mah EP, 26 Fastal 91-95 mph RHP, 40 fatal 80 mph. RHP, 34 Fastalt 91-93 mph 89-94 mp Ge Sigenetan eni MAO O Foarsame o faur seaner Twoseane Changne r • Forsaner Kucletal • Tweseaner fetl • Cuter unique pitches from Matsuzaka that O for seame had unusal movement. Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell says it's Matsuzaka's changeup with a screnball action - hardly magical but certainly a unique chalenge for major lkague batters. Aapanese boseball experts claim the pitch is actually a "backup slider," which simply goes down instead of down and away. But neither that pitch nor the one described by Farrell have the spiral spin. Snker O Sider Churgne Soltter Cure Cane Oungnp Curve Cane Side Forkbal Changrup drom catdher's The lagemovement point ol viw