Bobby Mitchell has yet to manage a game in his new hometown — which, coincidentally, happens to be the city where he was born — yet his triple-A baseball team has already set a franchise record.

The Salt Lake Bees just keep winning. They opened the new year with a series sweep in Las Vegas and the 4-0 start was the best ever for a Salt Lake triple-A team in the modern era, since its return to Utah in 1994.

But the Bees weren't done.

Mitchell's guys followed it up with three more victories in Tucson, including one where the opposing starting pitcher was one of the best left-handers in major league history. Randy Johnson — yes, that Randy Johnson, the 6-foot-10-inch "Big Unit" and the guy with 4,616 big-league strikeouts — was on the hill Tuesday night against the Bees in a rehab assignment. While Salt Lake hitters, understandably, didn't fare too well against Johnson during his six innings, they blasted three-run homers in both the eighth and ninth innings against Sidewinder relievers to keep the winning streak alive.

All in all, it's been an amazing start for a rookie triple-A manager.

Today Mitchell and the Bees will see if they can continue their winning ways in the friendly confines of Franklin Covey Field. Their home opener for the 2008 season is set for tonight when they host the Portland Beavers. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m.

"I'm really looking forward to managing this team," said Mitchell during the team's recent media day prior to taking off for the season opening series in Vegas. "These are outstanding players and outstanding kids, and I'm really looking forward to this season."

After the red-hot start, it's easy to see why he was so excited about things.

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Mitchell was born in Salt Lake City in 1955, so his taking over after two successful, division-winning Bees seasons under Brian Harper is a bit of a homecoming. The reality, though, is that despite his birthplace being Utah, Mitchell is more of a Californian. He lived in Salt Lake until he was four, but then moved to Sacramento where he was raised. He later played college ball in Los Angeles for USC and currently resides in San Diego during the offseason.

"I have some memories of living in Salt Lake, the house we lived in and things like that," said Mitchell. "It is good to be back here."