Superb Slump

JR is in a slump.

The fans in the fantastic stands rarely understand the mechanics of a slump.

JR is a veteran. He's been in the game for ten years. He's been up to the plate 1086 times. He has accumulated 266 hits. His strength is his consistency. Throughout his time in the game, he is hitting a respectable .250 with occasional flashes of power. Like his average indicates, he usually gets a hit every four attempts. He rarely goes 0 fer four.

Lately he's been in a statistical slump. Zero hits in his last 17 attempts. This is a new personal record for futility.

Something has changed. JR's stance and approach to the plate is not the same as it was two weeks ago. He changed it intentionally. Usually when we make a change, results get worse until they get better. During this transitional time of decreasing returns, it becomes tempting to drop the change and return to familiar pain and dance with the gal you brung to the dance. 

JR's change is only beginning as is the gigantic change about to hit the human experience. Things will be much different a year from now and we will talk about these days of spy balloons, artificial intelligence and UFO's with nostalgia and affection. Mark my words.

True, JR hasn't been successful statistically in these first few weeks of change but statistics don't tell the whole story. JR's timing has never been better. His vision has improved. As the ball approaches the plate it appears bigger and more beautiful as it spins through the air. JR can count the seams as the ball SLOWLY makes its way to the plate. JR can pinpoint the "curve" on the pitch by noting rotation of the seams. He sees a flashing green light that says "start your swing" which he does. While midswing he determines launch angle depending upon the location and spin of the pitch. A red warning light informs JR that the pitch is out of the strike zone. Don't swing at it. Another more cooperative offering will be on the way very soon. Be patient. 

When the green light flashes, visible only to JR, he begins the swing which reaches maximum velocity at the exact split second that the ball meets the bat which JR has adjusted so the cowhide collides only with the sweet spot of the wood. Then that sound...that CRACK and the ball zooms off in a direction opposite from where it was delivered.

Although JR is hitless in his last seventeen appearances, he has come to realize the difficulty of objectivity in a subjective realm. He's hitting screaming line drives that fielders snare in self-preservation. He's hit a ton of tape measure foul balls. He's been hitting to the deepest part of every field to the warning track in centerfield. Outfielders have made at least five surreal catches that turned triples into outs.

Meanwhile from an emotional point of view, JR has never felt more balanced and optimistic. He firmly believes that the oncoming changes will improve the game and encourage more people to play.

Now for appearance eighteen in the slump.