MMV #063: Where Should You Throw Your Sinker?

Read time: 3 minutes 

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Sinker are primarily throw down to the arm side.

What if I told you this isn't always the most optimal location?

Today, I am going to breakdown when and where you should throw your sinker.

Let's start with where pitchers currently throw the sinker.

The heat map above is right handed pitchers at the MLB level in 2023.

As you can see, the majority of sinkers are thrown to the arm side. 

Now let's see how these sinkers performed:

Blue = Good for pitcher

Red = Good for hitter

While there is some blue arm side, there is a TON on the glove side.

What's even more crazy is how much blue there is up and in to lefties.

To paint a clearer picture, lets look at expected wOBA by arm side and glove side.

Arm side 3rd: .352

Glove side 3rd: .311

Does this mean you should never throw sinkers arm side?

Of course not!

Glove side sinkers are hardly ever swung at.

This is good and bad.

If you can live on that side of the plate you will get a ton of called strikes.

BUT if you don't execute, the chances of it leaking over the plate are high and so is damage.

In a perfect scenario, this is the strategy I would use:

When behind in the count, throw the sinker arm side.

When you are behind in the count you want the batter to swing.

 Hitters are 3x more likely to swing at pitches to the arm side.

When you are AHEAD in the count, throw the sinker to the glove side.

Sinkers aren't known to be a strikeout pitch, but when executed to the glove side it can be a weapon.

Strikeout rate is 4x higher to the glove side 3rd than arm side 3rd.

It's important to remember executing glove side sinkers is not easy.

It takes many many reps to master.

One thing I love about glove side sinkers though, is it requires you to be connected and in sync with your delivery.

You can't consistently execute it without that.

In summary, there are advantages to both sides of the plate with the sinker.

Executing arm side is going to be easier for most people.

Master that first before moving onto the glove side.

That's all for today.

See you next week!

Whenever you are ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Remote Training: a personalized throwing and lifting program built for you and your goals.

2. In-Person Training: Work with me in Scottsdale, Arizona. Personalized training program to help you reach your goals. Trackman and edgertronic for bullpen sessions.

3. Trackman and Edgertronic camera bullpen: Get objective feedback on how your pitches are moving. I'll send you video and movement report after bullpen.