Slumps uncommon in royal game
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:10 AM
By SHELBY LYMAN
The recent batting slump by designated hitter David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox has been a topic of much media coverage. Normally tranquil, Ortiz has admitted, “My body is resting every night, but my mind is spinning.”
Such slumps seem to be an occupational hazard of baseball hitters and pitchers, who must either control or make direct contact with a small sphere often travelling at a speed of 90 mph or more.
The complex body mechanics required for such a task are easily thrown off for weeks or months.
In contrast, top chess players rarely have prolonged down periods in performance. One likely reason is the negligible physical component in chess. Motor responses gone awry seem intrinsically more difficult to correct than poorly tuned decision-making.
Grandmasters are also a leisure class compared with ballplayers, who engage in 162 games a season plus exhibitions.
They therefore have ample off-time for equilibrating their thinking through chess analysis or Internet play.
Another difference is that the mental processes of elite grandmasters are invisible. The mind is a private terrain. If a player is struggling, it might be difficult to tell.
Source: http://www.columbusdispatch.com
I have a slump. I’ve been stuck at 1300 for the last 4 years.
I like the picture!
If only the Jackass knew how to play chess!
Ha!
Ummmm. Have they ever heard of Ivanchuk? The guy regularly goes from crushing the field to get blown out the back, year after year after year.
Papi in a slump? That’s being charitable. I read a column not too long ago that made the point that it was likely his career in the majors was over and the Sox, if they were smart, were going to release him sooner rather than later.
some of these players dont play enough to have slumps..