A NEW SPIN? It spins like a football and breaks more dramatically than the snappiest curveball, but it may only exist in the computer simulations of Japanese scientists. The gyroball, reportedly mastered by prized Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, could be baseball's next big pitch. Or it could be a myth. COMPARED WITH OTHER PITCHES DOUBLE SPIN Gyroball THEORY Starts flat, then takes a drastic dive The pitcher’s hips away from (right-handed) batter. and throwing Thrown a few mph slower than the shoulder combine four-seam fastball to give the ball the theoretical Spiral spin “double spin.” The Like a bullet wrist is snapped at or football spiral release, turning the palm toward third base (for a Four-seam fastball right-handed Straight path, average 89-91 mph, pitcher). The thrown with a backspin fingers pull down to give the ball a sideways spin. Curveball Curved path, 11-14 mph slower than a ARM fastball, thrown with a forward spin DAMAGE The release is reminiscent of a screwball – a THE GRIP pitch that ruined Pitcher holds countless arms the side of the and careers ball with a before falling out fastball grip of vogue. But Japanese researchers say the pitch is much Measured in feet safer to throw rather than inches than other breaking balls. THE BREAK To the right-handed batter the ball appears to be coming right at them like a hanging curveball, then takes a drastic dive across the plate. To the left-handed batter the pitch looks like a ball outside. Sources: Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus, “The Secret of the Miracle Pitch” by Ryutaro Himeno and Kazushi Tezuka SEATTLE P-I.