Graph of the Day: Sinker Run Values

by Harry Pavlidis on Jun 25, 2009 6:00 AM EDT

I like sinkers, but who doesn't? Besides hitters, that is.

I've classified a lot of pitches this year, but far from all of them. Of the pitchers I've covered at some point, I have nearly 30 pitchers with 70 or more sinkers tagged. Here's how they rank, by rv100 (run value above average per 100 pitches), with negative numbers being better for pitchers.

This is far from a complete list of pitchers, and, in most cases, all of their sinkers. Think of it has a snapshot of a few guys, useful for comparison down the road. Data selected from 2009 regular season games only.

Carl Pavano, with his improved sinker in 2009, is still not looking good
Lots of Cubs? Well, I've classified all of their pitches
Vin Mazzaro is impressive

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Joel Pineiro

I wonder where he fits on the chart. He has been drinking the Dave Duncan kool-aid this season, and it looks to the naked eye that his sinker has been doing pretty well.

Yep, every Hall of Famer did something unique. Mike Schmidt played with his hat sideways. Roberto Clemente chewed other people's fingernails. Tris Speaker was Japanese. Lou Boudreau rode a dolphin into the batter's box. Nap Lajoie would only use John Wilkes Booth's dismembered leg as a bat. And he corked it. Johnny Mize was from the future. - FJM

by Choix003 on Jun 25, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

I was just going to say the same thing

This story at FanGraphs outlines his effectiveness.

by JBrew on Jun 25, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I need to update him

I haven’t looked at him since he shut-down the Cubs.

by Harry Pavlidis on Jun 25, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Me too

Free Joel!

godfather of futureredbirds.net

by erik on Jun 25, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Greinke and Santana

I wonder if there’s a way to predict the effect increased usage of a sinker would have on rv100 values; for example, if Grienke had thrown 200 sinkers as opposed to 83, would his rv100 value be lower, higher, or the same. I’m sure it’d be a pita to do, but if it’s possible it could be valuable.

Also, on Santana—this stat doesn’t particularly surprise me. Over the past two seasons, he’s incorporated ‘old lefty tools’ into his repertoire, including the sinker, as he begins to lose velocity on his four-seam fastball. Just from my naked eye observations, he hasn’t figured out placement on his sinker yet—he tends to leave it up or, worse, it flattens out right into a hitter’s wheelhouse and, thus, his rv100 values get punished.

by ProustianDisplay on Jun 25, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions