Through the Trenton Thunder's first 22 games of the season, the club has won 14 contests - but that matters very little to manager Bobby Mitchell.
TRENTON -- Through the Trenton Thunder's first 22 games of the season, the club has won 14 contests, including four straight, but those numbers matter very little to manager Bobby Mitchell.
Mitchell, just a few weeks into his first season as the new Trenton skipper, emphasized that he cares much more about player development than winning games.
Sure, both would be great, but player development comes first in his eyes.
"I truly believe that part of development is developing the winning type of attitude, where when you step on the field, you believe that you're going to win every game," Mitchell said. "I came up that way with the Dodgers; whenever we stepped onto the field, we were confident in our abilities. We weren't going to win every game, but we knew every day we stepped out there that we had a good chance to win, and I think that's important because I think winning can get contagious, and so can losing."
"When they get to the major league level, which were trying to develop everybody to get to, they've got to believe they belong there when they get there, and winning is part of that," the skipper said.
Mitchell realizes that the New York Yankees organization has entrusted him and his coaching staff with developing their young talent of the future, a task that the 61-year-old manager doesn't take lightly.
In order to maximize his outreach to his club, Mitchell says he tries to get to know each of his players on a personal level.
"I try to get to know them not only from a manager standpoint, but from a personal standpoint so they trust me," said Mitchell. "There's a lot of trust involved. If that trust factor's not there when I'm teaching somebody and they don't buy into what I'm teaching, then it's an uphill battle."
Based on positive feedback from his players, Mitchell's approach has been working.
"Bobby's awesome," said pitcher Brady Lail. "He and I had a good connection right from the start in spring training. I'm really, really excited he's here and that I can learn from him. He's an awesome, awesome manager."
Pitcher Cale Coshow agreed with Lail.
"His work ethic stands out; he wants to work," said Coshow. "He's comfortable here; you wouldn't realize that it's his first year with the Yankees. He's really supportive; he takes guys under his wing. Whether you did good or bad, he always lets you know there's another day to improve."
Above all else, Mitchell wants his players to know that he and his coaching staff want nothing more than to see them succeed.
"We're all here to help them," said Mitchell. "We're here to get them to the major leagues."
Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find NJ.com on Facebook.