Sink it, Ryan.

Ryan Dempster is getting sinker-happy. His three starts of 2011 combine to be his most sinker-laden starts since early 2008.

This virtually impossible to read graphic illustrates the point. Marked in yellow (with red text) is Demp's most recent 2011 start. Marked in red (with yellow text) is his last start of 2010. Each start is split into left- and right-handed batters. A 3-game moving average (covering the two preceding games, even if from another season, wtvr) for sinker usage (% of all pitches thrown) is attached to each start, and it is sorted from highest (more sinkers) to lowest (fewer sinkers).

You'll see 2011 is right near the top, 2010 down towards the middle. So, three starts in to 2011 Dempster has shown a substantial increase in sinker usage. Against LHH, the jump is from 31% to 39%. Against RHH, it has gone from 34% to 45%. Demp throws more sinking two-seam fastballs to lefties, so the ceiling is higher (>55% vs <50%) than with righties.

Cubs go for a series win today in Colorado. That would be something.