Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408240037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's only because the Buccaneers' manager hopes to continue his rise through the Pittsburgh system. Today, Class A, tomorrow ... the World Series?
``Sure, I'd like to manage in the big leagues, and I think I can get there in the not-too-distant future,'' Jewett said. ``You never know what's going to work out. But sometimes when people see a guy losing at the minor-league level, they get the wrong idea.''
The wrong idea about Jewett would be that he's a dugout dope. Longtime Salem baseball observers view the gregarious Jewett as the Bucs' best skipper since the often-difficult Jay Ward in 1988. If the record doesn't reflect that - and Jewett is 50 games under .500 in almost three years as a manager - it's because Pittsburgh's system is short on talent.
The bespectacled Texan won't knock the Pirates, who, since the Buccaneers last won the Carolina League title in 1987, have had only one title in the minors, at Class A Augusta in '89. That's because the organization has given Jewett two opportunities, to play and to manage.
With the former, he went as far as his talent took him, to Class AA in 1990. The season before that, as a backup catcher in Salem, Jewett was helping coach Spin Williams in the bullpen with pitchers. Jewett's seriousness about his career already was very obvious. He dutifully kept a book on every hitter and pitcher in the Carolina League.
``I started playing too old and started playing too young,'' said Jewett, who's 30 and single. ``I do think I had a gift in that I have an eye for talent, and I've always been able to work with different personalities.''
In four seasons as a catcher after signing as an undrafted free agent, Jewett got only 319 at-bats in the Pittsburgh system. He batted only .172. He saw the handwriting on the lineup card. In '89 here, he played little for a club that eventually sent nine players to the majors.
He already had become a player-coach in 1990 at Double A Harrisburg, and the next spring he switched to coaching. His managerial career began at short-season Welland in the New York-Penn League in 1992, and he jumped another level to Augusta last season. A North Texas University grad, Jewett doesn't have to work in baseball, but the game needs more people like him.
``Trent is one of the best managers I've worked with in my years in baseball,'' said Salem general manager Sam Lazzaro, whose front office has worked through gritted teeth with some other recent Bucs' skippers. ``His professionalism sets him apart. His cooperation. ... He understands what we do is important too. You don't always find that.''
Jewett said he has a grasp for the business aspect of the game, plus he knows ``that some people when they're the manager think they're running the world. You're not. This isn't about me. What's important is the players.
``It all, dealing with everyone, comes down to common sense, which if you think about it, really isn't so common.''
Jewett is firm, but fair. After games, Jewett talks to reporters while typing his game report into a computer. If that sounds impersonal, he isn't. He's cordial and candid. Many managers simply talk after a game. Jewett also listens.
``Managing is a lot of things,'' Jewett said. ``You're a counselor at times, a mother, even a banker. It's frustration a lot of times. And it doesn't always end up like you'd like. But I've never felt overmatched as a manager. I'm confident in my ability.''
And in Salem this season, the Pirates' system appears to have a major-league prospect who isn't playing.
by CNB