New Britain herald., 1926-06-30
EVEN THE SHREWD . OLD CONNIE MACK HAS HIS oUh PET BASEBALL
 SEPARATIONS

Most baseball managers are just as supcrstitiolls as the ball players and superstition runs riot among the athletes.
 As one watches Connie Mack methodically directing his bail club from the bench, he would never suppose the tall leader of the Ath- letics believed there was such thing as a jinx.
 Yet only recently, Connie, by de- ciding that Lefty Grove should never again be used as the opening pitcher in d three or four-game series, proved he did.
 And thereby hangs a very inter- estng tale of how superstition often causes smart baseball men to suffer an entire change of opinion.
 When a ball club has a big defen- sive threat like Grove or an offensive menace like Babo Ruth. the man. ager of the club has two lines of action.
 One is 10 hurl your best bet al the opposition, get 'em groggy, and then try your best 10 keep them in that condition. The other to keep him in reserve.
 Landing an early knockout was Mack's original intention in using Grove to open every series, With the star southpaw at the top of his game, the odds are always in favor of his turning in a victory.
 Winning the first ball game in any series is the edge, It puts the opposition on the defense.
 That is all very well if form holds good and your best bet comes through. If he fails it is different. You have used your ace and lost. That removes the big threat and adds 10 the confidence of the rival club.
 All season Grove has pitched sen sational ball for the Athletics, yet his pitching percentage would never convey that impression to the fan who had only the figures to guide him.
 Grove has done little better than break even, yet with the possible eN- ception of say two ball games, every one of his pitching efforts was deserving of victory.
 Since the opening of the season Grove has been use as the starting pitcher in practically every series. When the opposing team beat Grove. which it did quite often, it breathcd a sigh of relief. figuring him out of the way for the rest of the series.
 The tough breaks suffered by Grove on the clubs recent road trip caused Manager Mack 10 decide a shift in plans was necessary to re- move the jinX.
 In three games, against Boston. Chicago and Cleveland. the last one going Ii innings, Grove allowed a total Of only four runs, yet suffered three defeats.
 That was too much for the usual ly complacent Mir. Mack.
 X change of program was decid- ed upon. Instead of starting a . N''I l'N- Nfl'N' N tS IbIlifl jS the Se- locticn for the third of fourth game.
 In addition to keeping the big threat in the background. i, enabled . Manager Mack to use him late in the first two games to hold a slight lead.
 Grove, who has a free, easy mo- ton. doesn't think anything of working a couple of innings as a pinch pitcher.
 As a matter Of fact. il is not at all unusual for him 10 warm up a 1 bit each day. Certain pitchers rest day or two after taking their reg uIar turn but Grove is not that sort. Strong and willing, this feature of ! his makeup will permit his use in pinch roles without in any way hurt ing his work in his regular start.
 If will bo interesting 10 watch how the new program that has been out lined for the pitching sensation of 92G turns out.