How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He practiced different grips on Wonderboy before his bureau mirror and sewed miraculous medals and evil-eye amulets of fish, goats, clenched fists, open scissors, and hunchbacks all over the inside of his clothes. (6.65)
No, he's not getting ready for a Halloween party; Roy's trying to break his slump by using every lucky charm he can find or invent in combination with trying to change up his swing. The collection of crazy objects he sews into his clothes shows us just how desperate he is for a little help from the baseball spirits. He's trying everything, including practicing (which probably will have the greatest effect).
Quote #8
A white shadow flew into the bathroom. Rushing in, he kicked the door open. An ancient hoary face stared at him. "Bump!" He groaned and shuddered. An age passed… (6.77)
The ghost of your ex-enemy showing up in your bathroom? This happens while Roy's in his hitting slump, so we can read the ghost as a sort of comparison he's making between himself and his successful, but dead, competitor. Bump's ghost might also be making an appearance to scare (or warn?) Roy away from Memo.
Quote #9
And though Fowler goose-egged the Cubs in the last of the ninth and got credit for the win, everybody knew it was Roy alone who had saved the boy's life. (6.134)
You've heard stories like this before, about sick kids asking their favorite sports figures to shoot a basket or hit a homer for them. Well, this time Roy's in the hot seat for a sick boy, and when he breaks his slump and gets his homerun, everyone takes for granted that the boy's saved somehow by the healing powers of baseball. It might be that the request from the boy's desperate Dad motivated Roy to break the slump, but he doesn't see it that way; he thinks it was Iris.