FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Daisuke Matsuzaka knew the question was coming. So when he heard it -- the last one of his 42-minute news conference Thursday -- he winced, then smiled.
Does he really throw a "gyroball," whatever that is?
Speculation about the pitch that may or may not exist had grown since the Red Sox signed the Japanese star to a $52 million, six-year contract in December. Matsuzaka, in a charming yet clearly calculated way, chose not to clear up the mystery.
"How should I answer?" he said through an interpreter. "I knew this question was coming today and I was preparing some optional answers for this particular question. Should I say I have that ball? Or I can say which particular ball are you referring to?"
The pitch behaves somewhat like a slider but with a different rotation. It drops away from righty hitters and into lefties. Matsuzaka -- who has at least four other outstanding pitches -- shrewdly wasn't about to give them an edge by describing the pitch.
If there is such a thing.
"If I get the chance," he said. "I will pitch that ball."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
