Sinker (baseball)
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In baseball, a sinker is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls.[1] Pitchers who use the sinker tend to rely on it heavily and do not need to change pitch speeds as much as other pitchers do because the sinking action induces weak bat contact. Other pitchers normally change pitch speeds to achieve this effect.[2]
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[edit] History
Before the 1950s, pitchers did not know what caused their pitches to sink or "hop." They regarded either ability as a "gift from heaven." Bill James cites Curt Simmons as the first pitcher to be able to throw both sinkers and rising fastballs, apparently indicating that it was now known how to make a pitch sink and how to make one hop.[1] Brandon Webb, Jake Westbrook, Derek Lowe, Fausto Carmona, Aaron Cook, Chien-Ming Wang, Tim Hudson, Roy Halladay and Zach Miner are current major league players who rely heavily on the sinker. Webb's mastery of the sinker has contributed significantly to his recent streak of having pitched 42 scoreless innings. When Chien-Ming Wang's sinker has been particularly effective, he has relied on the pitch in several mid to late inning performances before surrendering a single hit, his August 30, 2007 performance against the world champion Boston Red Sox being a prime example.
[edit] Throwing mechanics
One method of throwing the sinker is to simply grip the baseball along the two seams and throw it similar to a fastball. Some pitchers use a downward motion on their wrist when throwing it. This causes a sharper sink, but also has a greater risk of a wild pitch. However, the sinker ball pitchers may also turn the ball over just before releasing the ball, slightly increasing the pressure on the ball with the index finger.[1]
[edit] Effects on the batter
The sinker drops 5 to 10 inches more than a typical fastball which causes batters to hit ground balls more often than other breaking balls.[1] Horizontal movement also occurs when sinkers are thrown.[2]
[edit] Famous Sinkerballers
Kevin Brown
Roy Halladay
Brandon Webb
Tim Hudson
Chien-Ming Wang
Derek Lowe
Orel Hershiser
Fausto Carmona
Jake Westbrook
Jason Marquis
Carlos Zambrano
Wally Bunker's sinker was his most effective pitch during his short career. Mickey Mantle once referred to Bunker's sinker as the type of pitch “you could break your back on.” [1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d John Walsh. In Search of the Sinker. The Hardball Times.
- ^ a b Joe P. Sheehan. That Sinking Feeling. Baseball Analysts.
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