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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The City of Palms is electric with talk about the kid from Japan. Twenty-six-year-old Daisuke Matsuzaka, better known as “Dice-K,” is wowing the fans and non-fans alike as the biggest baseball mystery in a decade.
I joined the 150-plus credentialed Japanese reporters to get a glimpse of the $103 million dollar pitcher (that’s what it cost the Red Sox to talk to his team in Japan, and then acquire his services for the Red Sox). The sports world has qualified him as “a phenom.”
The constant question that remains unanswered is: Does he throw the fabled gyroball? I watched him pitch four innings against Baltimore and I still don’t know if I saw it. It’s a pitch that no one can say for sure any human can really throw. It was developed at the Riken Brain Science Institute by physicist Ryutaro Himeno. In theory, it can be thrown. Unlike other pitches, the gyroball spins like a bullet. The motion allows the ball to take a surprising turn away from right-handed batters. It breaks faster than a curveball. It’s slower than a fastball. It’s magical. It’s mythical, and it’s got everyone wondering: Does he or doesn’t he?
Dice-K won’t say.
I can confirm one tidbit of information: Dice-K speaks only in Japanese. He has a translator with him every step of the way. So we assume he doesn’t speak English.
But when he walked past NBC News producer Mario Garcia Sunday, Dice-K looked at the baseball cap on Mario’s head. It was a Seibu Lions hat: Dice-K’s former team. Without missing a beat, with an accent that could easily pass for any kid in California, Dice-K said in English, “Nice Cap.” Cap! Not hat.
I can’t help but wonder: Every time he’s asked a question in English by journalists, fans or whomever, does he understand long before he answers? And if he does, then he may be just smart enough to throw the gyroball and never reveal he can do that either.
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Early Nightly is up
How about those Dice-K T shirts? They've already sold out three times. I hope you bought Mario Garcia a Boston cap he can wear in the Bronx.
(Sent Mar 14, 2007 3:07:52 PM)
OK so there are two people who don't follow the sport and one guy who thinks getting shelled in a spring training game means something commenting on this story.
Yeah. OK.
(Sent Mar 14, 2007 1:17:09 PM)
Why do people who play games get paid so well and people who actually work, no, not acting, or singing, get paid so little? And people wonder why our world is a mess. When will we ever get our Priorities in order? After it is too late, like now. Ummm, gee, if you need suggestions how about the Environment for starters? Just a thought.
(Sent Mar 14, 2007 10:12:45 AM)
I don't do baseball, but I live in Northern New England. Shall I say more? I think the money the Sox spent was, and still is, one of the most rediculous things they could have done. I am cynical of pro players' salaries, but give me a break on this one.... HOW much money? Theo had better hope this guy wins them some games against the Yanks AND a few more World Series!
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Mar 13, 2007 10:52:43 PM)
Actually, in Japanese they use the English words nice (naisu) and cap (kyappu) in baseball, the same way they use various English terms like bat (batto), ball (boru), glove (gurobu), strike (storaiku), etc. But I can verify that Matsuzaka is pretty coy when he speaks his native language too, and he has Japanese sportswriters speculating about the gyro-ball just as much as Americans.
Steven Evans, Japan (Sent Mar 13, 2007 10:46:53 PM)
It is my understanding that in a 3 hour baseball game the ball is actually in play for a total of about 5 minutes. Does this give new meaning to the word "boring"?
paul martin benbrook texas (Sent Mar 13, 2007 9:48:30 PM)
believe me if Baltimore and it's 3rd rate squad can shell him like they did, he damned well better have a Gyroball up his sleave for the price that was paid for him!
Johnie, Washington, DC (Sent Mar 13, 2007 9:20:08 PM)
If he gets people out, New England will love him. If he doesn't, they won't. It doesn't matter what pitch he throws or doesn't throw. It doesn't matter whether he speaks English. This is all gobbledegook. Check back with us in August.
Robert L. Mills (Sent Mar 13, 2007 6:37:05 PM)
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