3:15pm: The decision on whether Vitello will be the next manager of the Giants or not is expected within the next 24 to 72 hours, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Passan adds that while Vitello is the “top target” of San Francisco at this point, the sides have yet to reach a deal.
1:56pm: The Giants’ managerial search seems to be nearing an end, with a surprising name emerging from the college ranks. The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Brittany Ghiroli, and Ken Rosenthal report that “the Giants are closing in on hiring” University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as their next skipper. Vitello told The Athletic by text that “there is nothing to confirm” about the news, and the Giants also haven’t commented on the report.
The 47-year-old Vitello was an assistant baseball coach for Missouri (his alma mater), TCU, and Arkansas from 2003-2017 before being hired for the top job at Tennessee in June 2017. The Volunteers have since become an elite program, with a 341-131 record under Vitello’s watch and the school’s first NCAA national championship in baseball in 2024. Beyond that College World Series victory, the Vols also reached the World Series in both 2021 and 2023, and they were SEC regular-season and tournament champions in both 2022 and 2024.
Beyond this sterling record in NCAA baseball, however, Vitello has no experience as a player, coach, or manager in professional baseball. There have been examples in recent years of teams reaching out to hire college coaches or assistants to big league coaching staffs, yet hiring a manager without any experience in an MLB organization is a step beyond. Brewers skipper Pat Murphy is a notable example of a current manager with lots of college head coaching experience, but as Baggarly/Ghiroli/Rosenthal note, Murphy had many years as a minor league manager and a big league bench coach (not to mention a stint as the Padres’ interim manager) in between his NCAA work and his managerial job with the Brewers.
Vitello’s name doesn’t come out of the blue, as Baggarly mentioned him as a possible managerial candidate a little under three weeks ago, when rumors were swirling about Bob Melvin being on the way out in San Francisco. Baggarly felt the Giants would be looking for “a younger manager who operates with a high motor” as Melvin’s replacement, and the names linked to the team’s managerial search have generally fit this description. Former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Royals third base coach Vance Wilson are both 52 years old, and former catchers Kurt Suzuki and Nick Hundley are both 42 years old.
In regards to Hundley, the Athletic reporters note that he is now “expected to remain in Texas” in his current job as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Chris Young. Past reports indicated Hundley was a big candidate and possibly the front-runner for the San Francisco job, but Hundley will now remain with the Rangers. It isn’t known if the Giants simply preferred to go with Vitello, or if Hundley may have taken himself out of the running, as he did in 2023 when he was previously considered as a candidate for the Giants’ last managerial vacancy.
Assuming Vitello indeed ends up in San Francisco, it represents a bold move for both the coach and for the Giants organization. Vitello would be “leaving the comfort of his fiefdom for a job that offers anything but stability,” as the Athletic trio puts it. From the perspective of president of baseball operations Buster Posey, replacing a three-time MLB manager of the year in Melvin with someone entirely new to pro baseball is a huge swing for Posey’s very first managerial hire since taking over the Giants’ front office a year ago.
The Giants’ 107-win season in 2021 represents the team’s only playoff appearance and winning record in the last nine years, as San Francisco’s next best marks were 81-81 record in both 2022 and 2025. This season’s .500 record wasn’t enough for Posey in the wake of some big long-term acquisitions (Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Rafael Devers) within the last year, and Melvin’s dismissal was the latest step in Posey wanting to entirely put his stamp on the franchise’s operations.
There would be no shortage of fascinating subplots to a Vitello hire, the most pressing being simply how a college coach’s tactics can translate to motivating and leading a clubhouse of seasoned major leaguers. Vitello’s NCAA credentials are as good as anyone’s, but as we’ve seen countless times in the NFL, NBA, or NHL, coaching the professional game is vastly different than being a success in the collegiate ranks. The Giants have had difficulty in luring top-tier free agents in the past, and it is worth wondering how those pursuits could be impacted with Vitello in the mix — would free agents balk at playing under an inexperienced manager, or would Vitello’s recruiting methods work as well on big leaguers as they do on blue-chip college prospects?
Very interested in seeing his salary. I would imagine it is substantial to get him to make the leap.
He’s already making $3M/yr. as a D1 coach and is the second highest paid at the level. That’s more than most MLB managers. A long, guaranteed should do it if Posey want him.
Yea, that salary with a much shorter schedule.
It may be a shorter game schedule, but with scouting and recruiting, it might be a busier schedule
Shorter? I’ve been a college head coach and you get almost zero days off. Practice, games, recruiting, fund raising. It’s non stop at the college level.
I’m going to trust Buster. I’ve like his moves so far and though i thought Craig Albernaz was going to get the position, it’s good to get this manager in place as quickly as possible because there’s lots to do this off season, not the lease of which is adding two solid rotation arms, bullpen help and possibly a second baseman if Polaco or Bichette can be afforded.
I like Bichette at second, but what to do about a right fielder on top of those bullpen arms and top end starter. I like the trade front with Grey being an option, would prefer Ryan.
Should happen more often. NFL does this all the time. Why do coaches that have proven themselves never get a shot ? (If their style matches the teams abilities of course)
Because it rarely ever works out successfully. Big difference in how you treat college kids and grown men.
Baseball likes trends and Pat Murphy has been pretty successful…
And, as the article points out, Murphy also had years of professional managing experience at the minor league level.
@kc38 Fooey! Name a few examples.
I’ll throw your question back at you lol… name a few that have worked?
@kc I’m taking that as a, Yep, you’re right.
@kc38 Bobby Winkles and Dick Howser.
Grown men or not, there’s no difference, a manager/baseball head coach, with the right leadership skills, can handle and is expected to handle the talent and egos.
Let’s be fair: Howser was an MLB manager moonlighting at a college job until the next pro job came along (which, of course, was exactly what happened).
There is no difference between a college kid and a pro player making 25+ mil a year? Yeah right.
Leadership skills are important no doubt, but let’s drop the idea that there is no difference. That’s just a ridiculous comment.
I meant there should be no difference between college amateur athletes and professional baseball players to a manager/head coach with the right leadership skills.
Wrong.
“with the right leadership skills”.
That’s like saying there’s no difference between winning bingo and winning Powerball, with the right numbers.
Bigger difference in how you manage a 162 game season vs a 56 game season.
Actually, no. You manage each game, not the season. You’d manage each game in a 56 game season as you would each game in a 162 game season. And, if Vitello is hired, I’m sure he’ll be supported by coaches with adequate experience.
You would not manage each game in a 56 game season the way you would manage each game in a 162 game season. College plays 4 times a week. MLB plays 6 times a week and sometimes 14+ days in a row. There’s a lot more long term strategy to account for especially in regards to pitcher usage.
But the pitchers aren’t equal between the pros and college. You imply that relievers would be more available on a daily basis to a college coach. But young kids need more protection since they aren’t as developed physically, as the older players in MLB. Plus, almost every manager in MLB relies heavily on their pitching coaches in the handling of the bullpen.
Mostly what the manager does is set the lineup, decide whether to pinch hit, and who, whether to bunt, as well as a number of other in-game decisions that are no different in a 56 game season than a 162 game one.
Running an NCAA football program is in many ways as or more challenging than an NFL team.
Running an NCAA baseball team is probably equivalent to running a single-A team.
“Running an NCAA baseball team is probably equivalent to running a single-A team.”
Not really. Not when you factor in recruiting, transfer portal, academic compliance, summer league coordination, and NIL (at least for larger schools, like the SEC). NFL isn’t quite analogous, but it’s certainly closer than Single-A baseball.
Good point. The question is: how do these skillsets translate to the needed skillsets required to run an MLB team?
Well it depends on how good the team is. If it’s a D3 team then it might be closer to Single A. If it’s D1 it might be closer to below the major league level.
I don’t get that analogy. Just because the level of talent is similar to single A, college coaches have to do a lot more. They have to be their own GM. They have to find the players, get them to come to their school, and do that every year, since they’ll only have guys for 4 years max, and some for only have for 2-3 years.
Apples versus pincherries.
All college programs today, including Tennessee, have a GM who handles things like NIL money.
College baseball coaches don’t have to find players. Their desks are littered with video sent in by the players and their parents and all the best players participated in things like Perfect Game, Area Code Games, and travel ball which is attended mostly by assistant coaches. Head coaches in college are usually not the main recruiters. Assistants have made several visits throughout a players high school years and only at the end does the head coach visit or invite the player to visit the campus.
The best players are only at a program for 3 years and are drafted after their junior season.
The college version of the GM is nowhere near comparable to to an MLB PBO/GM. And, you’re delusional if you think assistant coaches handle all the recruiting. That may be true for guys that are looking for a spot on a team, but no top recruit is signing a letter of intent without the involvement of the head guy.
Sure a lot of videos get sent, but the coach still needs to sort through them all and decide which ones are worth recruiting.
You’re trying to minimize what college coaches do as opposed to what MLB managers do. It isn’t as great a gulf as you suggest.
It’s more like the difference between running a 5K and running a marathon. To me the biggest concern is that Vitello has never gone through 162, as either a player or a coach, at any level. How’s he gonna know how to manage that grind having never done it, leading a room full of men that have?
That’s a valid concern, which I’m sure Posey is aware of. Vitello, if he takes the job, will be given plenty of experienced support. I wouldn’t discount all the offseason work he did as a college coach either.
He’s. It proven at the professional level. But worth a shot. I just wouldn’t give him a long contract.
It’ll be his first MLB job. No one should be expecting him to ace his first year while learning the ropes, dealing with media, and adjusting to the long travel schedule. Giants will need to provide him some security.
I think this is a landmark move. Not only are you getting a college coach to move to the pros. But it’s a coach from an elite school at the peak of his career moving to a storied franchise that expects to win right away. This follows the pattern of MLB making the NCAA more of a feeder system.
Certainly and outside-the-box selection by Posey. Even as a Dodger fan, I’m fascinated and hope it pans out.
I hope it pans out so San Francisco can be good again and beat the dodgers
Bring on the competition. MLB needs more good teams, not fewer.
I agree. The Padres deserve a thank you, were it not for them, Dodger bats seemed to be getting too relaxed. Competition breeds greatness. A healthy starting rotation makes this year’s Dodgers so much better than their regular season record.
Great decision. Shame the old school Phillies can’t think outside the box like this under dinosaur Dombrowski
Pretty crazy to complain about one of the best GM/PBO in the baseball.
Not really as he has done little positive over past three years and his only idea is keep doing the same old crap, as indicated by keeping idiot Thomson
Idiot? Really?
So, like a dombrowscasauras or something?
No, he’s right. It is absolutely crazy to dis 2 time BOA executive of the year, 2- time WS champ, and the guy that got Duran and Bader which drove the Phillies run. The dude does something every year, so complain about Harper/Castellanos decline or the injuries suffered to the starting rotation. Your insane to think Dom is anything but great. Trust a fan who had to suffer through Farhans desire to recycle old trash for multiple years.
@El Kabong: Never Remember paid the TR fee so he could keep the name calling and troll insults going. He was banned for it several times under his previous screen names—–blackpink, etc. He probably won’t be banned now.
Fost,
Fans of other teams always forget every team has dealt with a bad time with bad management, ownership, etc.
But somehow those teams made it through and are thriving now, and apparently are doing everything wrong these days lol.
Bitter fans have short memories and bad takes.
“Great decision..dinosaur Dombrowski”…Do you you mean the same “Dom” that’s taken 4 or 5 different teams to the World Series?
The same “Dom” that was already building championship level baseball teams when you were still dating cheerleaders?
Proof they dated cheerleaders.
I’ll wait.
Lie.
He dated yo mama. Fixed it.
And there you have it, some perfect retorts. Who says indulging in X provides no transferable skills?
And dombrowski used to date playmates.
And he used to eat playdo
Couldn’t hurt…give ’em a shot!
Quite the jump. I hope it works out for him.
Bold move. I like the idea of the league bringing in a fresh perspective. Best of luck to all parties.
That guy is obnoxious as hell. Saw a game a few years ago where UT homered, bat flipped, etc. Next inning an opponent homered and bat flipped. Vitello ran on the field, grabbed the bat and threw it into the opposing team’s dugout.
Oh no now that yoy mention I like it. Who doesn’t like a Lil Earl weaver
Funny I don’t see that on the Giants website at all
That’s because this is a rumors site, and this would only make it to the Giants’ website when it’s officially announced by the team. Teams generally don’t comment on rumors and reports.
If you follow the Giants Beat guys, the story for the past fortnight that it was Hundley’s job if he wanted it. Now he’s dropped out, they’ve gone with this guy.
Buster the Bold. We have gone from his bestie to the young energetic college guy. Ha ha. Buster don’t care what the people may say.
The guy certainly does not behave like a modern day owner. Good for him. Take risks. Break molds. It’s much more entertaining than boring, old, corporate, risk-management tactics.
I shouldn’t be surprised. There’s a history. Sitting out Covid year, retiring with a $20m year still sitting there for him. Buster does Buster.
Better than Buster the old. Cranky little guy screaming on ESPN. Amirite?
Giants first rounder from 2025, Gavin Kilen, played at Tennessee.
Just coincidence but interesting. I like going outside the MLB box for a guy like Vitello. And there’s no risk for him as even if he gets fired in a few years the NCAA will be waiting for him. I’d like to see him infuse some energy into the Giants dugout. We need some fire! Give me a Lou Pinella or Billy Martin guy who’s always yelling from the dugout. I swear, Kapler and BoMel looked half awake most of the time.
To be fair, BoMel perked up to a full quarter awake at the postgames!
Also 2023 4th round pick Maui Ahuna, likely Richmond SS next year.
How exactly did San Francisco’s AA affiliate end up all the way across the country in Richmond, Virginia? Wasn’t the Richmond team once part of Atlanta’s farm system?
Yes it was Armament. Richmond was the Braves AAA team until 2008. The Braves moved their AAA team to Gwinnett Co Ga to be closer to the ML team.
The Eastern League is somewhat unique. Nothing like it out west, which seems to be all hitter-friendly. I’m guessing the Giants want to give their pitchers, and probably hitters as well, playing time in a more pitcher friendly atmosphere.
Also the two main guys they got from the Mets in the Rogers trade, Gilbert and Tidwell.
Frank Robinson actually slept on the bench as manager of the expos.
At least now we don’t have to hear people incessantly link them to Bruce Bochy.
At least now..link them to Bruce Bochy”..Not necessarily. This whole Vitello thing could be an intricate smoke screen.
Both Heyman and Verducci are reporting that Bochy is on a private plane, heading to a secret meeting with Posey & other Giants ownership.
Ha ha. Drama ! Are people tracking the plane ?
Dude, believe it.
My girlfriend’s brothers boss knows the guy that knows the guy who fueled the private jet.
Bochy might be taking a job in the Giants front office or could he be the new manager’s bench coach? Would he actually do that downward move? If so that would be a super way of grooming a college head coach into MLB!!
No, Bochy is not taking a bench coach job. Stop with that garbage.
This seems strange, but I’ll definitely give Posey credit for going and thinking outside the box.
Some really good college coaches struggled in the NFL and NBA. MLB is not the same as dealing with kids. It will be interesting to see how this goes because it’s either going to open the door for more NCAA coaches in MLB or slam it shut
And it’s not just that he has to manage grown adults making millions of dollars, it’s that he has to do it for 162 games. The college season compared to the MLB is like comparing a 5K to a marathon. How is a guys who’s never experienced that grind in any capacity supposed to lead a room of men who have?
This move feels akin to when the Giants interviewed Alyssa Nakken for the manager job after they fired Kapler. The Giants seem to be more interested in being “first” at potentially terrible decisions than being in first place in the NL West
Hey at least she’s been a part of actual professional organizations and experienced 162. But yeah boldness for the sake of boldness it seems.
Tony is a fantastic coach here at Tn. Revitalized a decent program into the most dynamic college baseball team at the collegiate level. His programs are putting out a lot of talent into MLB. The last 2 years something like 30+ players have been drafted with a slew of 1st and 2nd rounders. He is elite here, but, being a manager at MLB level is extremely different. There is less power and less say in managing the team and I wonder if his temperament and ability to adapt and be happy will transfer. In many ways i think he is similar to Saban who achieved greatness and wanted to try the Pro game and found out it did not work for him. Time will tell.
I have been a Giants die hard since the early 70’s and I don’t mind this move. They like the Tennesse program having drafted Kilien and trading for Gilbert. Buster has earned the right to make his choice and in Buster I trust. He got the Chappy deal over the line signed Adames and traded for Devers with more big moves expected. They also have quite a few good prospects in the lower minors so a younger coach may be more desirable than an old retread. Add an experienced bench coach to help out.
Ron Wotus
Considering that a manager’s job these days is basically to keep a positive clubhouse culture, I’m sure that’s what the Giants see in him. He’s likely a positive energy, camaraderie type guy. As far as managerial decisions go – most decisions are analytical these days, so that’s just a matter of following a system.
“Considering that a managers job these days”…Some interesting insights and very well stated.
I applaud Posey for being willing to change directions and not follow the book. However, I’m expecting the worst here. Nearly every successful university coach had said that the secret to success at the college level is: recruiting, recruiting, recruiting.
There is an opportunity for the Rockies to finish outside of the basement.
Having never experienced a 162 game grind at any level from any position is pretty alarming. Could see him badly mismanaging the pitching staff.
This sounds like a good choice! If he can help turn the Giants toward a better direction, I’d bet many Dodger fans would like that, wanting to see the Dodgers-Giants rivalry get going again.
This reads like it was written by an AI bot lol
Maybe we should ask Alexa or Siri.
I find the possible hiring quite exciting actually. All the interviews I’ve heard with Vitello have impressed me. It’s a bold move, and the most important thing about why this could work in SF is that the core of the team has incredible captains and leaders already. Webby, Chapman, and Adames, are going to lead by example, play the game the right way and keep the dugout positive. If it was a roster full of egocentric prima-donnas I don’t think it would work. That a bunch of guys Vitello has coached already like recently acquired like Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, last years 1st rounder Gavin Kilen, plus Maui Ahuna are all in the system I could see those younger players leaving 1000% of it on the field every day for Tony.
Pure speculation, while the SFG have a core in place, there’s also a fair bit of youth coming up in the system. Beyond the high motor, there’s a development aspect that can’t be ignored. More and more it seems prospects get to the MLB not quite the finished products they have been in the past. It was something you could say was a positive with Kapler’s staff
I was wondering how Vitello got on their radar, I blanked on the Kilen connection however did suspect it was via their amateur scout people. Very likely Minasian saw Kilen in person and my understanding it it routine for scouts/front office to have a chat with the player’s coaching staff as part of the due diligence on a player. I wouldn’t doubt that they also asked about Gilbert as part of their scouting of the NYM farm
Vitello brings great energy to the field & strong leadership skills – Giants made a good choice.
@sfjackcoke
Scouting is certainly intricate when it comes to acquiring, signing, and drafting players. It’s not just looking at stats; there’s a human element that comes with that process. It’s the same with making hires. If and when the Giants hire Vitello, it’ll be interesting to learn how and why the hire happened.
I would love to see articles about scouting and how it leads to the finished product that winds up on the MLB playing field. It would probably be fascinating.
This would be in line with Posey’s focus on stressing fundamentals. Be interesting to see what the coaching staff would look like. Whether he would bring some of his guys or they would lean toward guys with pro experience.
If this is the hire, I wonder now if Posey said to himself is this will be better manager than the one, I fired. I also wonder if Posey talked to his star players on this idea.
It would be stupid not to before making his decision to fire Melvin even if some of them liked him. Feedback is important in a leadership role even if you may hear things you disagree with.
The best the Giants can hope for is a third place finish in the NL West. Maybe they can bribe or coerce MLB to relocate the team to the AL West. Right now the team is short of a Double quarter pounder and fries of a value meal.
Nonsense, they are easily capable of competing for 2nd next year.
Bad decision. Fired in three years. Great college coach, not fit for immediate MLB manager.
The name Bobby Winkles comes to mind. He managed the Angels after a stellar career coaching at Arizona State.
Let’s say it just didn’t work out the way Gene Autry hoped.
Bobby was a color man for expos games on the radio. Never knew he was a manager. Can’t picture him being one. Guess it was close to getting back on the saddle again.
Winkles at least played professionally, capping out at AAA. Vitello never played professionally or has, to my knowledge, been a part of any MLB organization. That makes his hiring substantially groundbreaking. I have zero insight as to how risky this may be, but I find it interesting that Buster chose this route with a guy who’s already making $3 mill/yr. Interesting to see who his coaching staff will consist of.
I’ll reserve any snap judgments. Personally it seems like a man who’s got zero experience in the pros should be a big league coach or manage in the minors for a year or two rather than jump right in as a skipper, particularly for a team that thinks it can contend now.
That said, if it works, it’ll be a great story and Buster will look like a genius. I’m no Giants fan, but I kind of hope it works out, at least up to a point.
Sure but Vitello is also making $3M/yr. at his current job. He’s not taking a coaching position for $250K or whatever. And it wouldn’t be fair to current coaches if he’s out-earning them by ten-fold and works under them. It’s an interesting move by Posey for sure.
I would be very concerned about giving the keys to a guy who’s never experienced a 162 game grind at any level or in any position. There’s so much more long-term implication to your decision making.
And he won’t have to change team colors. He seems like a good dude with high energy and very bright. Clearly he’s been uber successful at Tennessee. I hope it translates.
I have no clue on how this works out if completed. It does feel like they would be going from one extreme (sleepy Bob) to another extreme (high energy). I suppose the only thing that would concern me is the mlb season is a real grind. While I disliked Melvin’s low energy. I do have to wonder if going high energy for 162 games is will wear on the players.
What I would assume is he will be a guy that preaches fundamentals. I feel like that’s a big thing for minor league and college managers who are dealing with teenagers. It will be up to the giants players to decide if they want to buy in. That will largely come from what is the most important job of an mlb manager…communication skills.
I would rather have him than a former player who has zero coaching experience any day of the week. This man will be successful if hired.
He never played, coached, or managed in the big leagues. He will lose the clubhouse by July. Buster better make it a short contract.
If he Tennessee, he gonna suck. Cuz nothing sucks like a Big Orange. Amirite?
No, you are not, and you can’t spell either 👎🙄
Stay in Knoxville, Tony. We love you and have your back.
Tony Vitiellos. Great place to hang on Saturday nights. Know a guy who knows a guy who gets us in front. Have to enter thru the kitchen. Try the chicken parm.
Desperate move by a desperate franchise trying to stay relevant.
Desperate post by desperate nobody trying to be relevant.
Bad move by hiring this guy. College baseball coaching is 100% different than managing MLB. College kids playing for nothing, MLB players making millions. You can motivate kids better than pro players. Thats why they need to hire a manager either with experience or having experience in MLB coaching.
Just look how Derek Shelton, with no managing skills or experience just about ruind the pirates. Then the clueless Nutting hires a Shelton clone in Kelly.
Can you please include the title of your book on baseball? I’m curious to learn more about this theory.
I dint think that you are RELEVANT enough to comprehend anything
Not sure how you can state categorically that it’s a bad move when you have no idea whether it will work out or not. Neither do I, but I don’t possess that same level of hubris.
You offer one example in Shelton when there are many more guys hired with no experience that did well. Stephen Vogt for one, and he was hired out of the broadcast booth. Same with Craig Counsell, Aaron Boone, and Bob Brenly. Brenly brought the D’backs a WS title, and the role has been reduced since then. Dave Roberts’ experience was as a 1B coach, and filled in as a manager for one game. And David Ross was hired out of the FO.
And just because motivating kids is easier than motivating professional ballplayers does not automatically mean he won’t be able to motivate MLB guys. Experience has ceased to be a necessary factor in getting hired as an MLB manager.
Jean…this is just my opinion. It’s my belief thst you need a experienced manager or coach. Young coaches get their experience after s couple of years coaching or managing in the minority league. This also applied to coaching at the mlb level as a 1st,3rd base coach, a pitching coach etc. You’re opinion is well stated
Baseball trade conspiracies, You’re entitled to your opinion But that opinion goes contrary to my examples of guys hired with little to no experience. Not sure a couple years as a 1B coach, or a year or 2 as a special consultant in the FO, really has that much advantage as a potential manager.
Here’s another example: A.J. Hinch was hired to manage the D’backs having never previously managed, or coached at any level. His experience was as a farm director, which has no real similarity to the job of manager of an MLB team.
Jean..you are correct when you said that no one knows how things will work out. But that’s how life is. You never know how anything will work out
All the guys you listed had experienced the grind of a 162 game season. The college season compared to the MLB season is like comparing a 5K to a marathon. I have a really hard time believing a guy who has never experienced 162 at any level as either a coach or a player is going to be able to manage that grind and lead a clubhouse full of guys who have.
I’m thinking Buster might be across the clubhouse character and the 162 grind aspect.
noquarter89m I’m pretty sure Vitello wasn’t taking off the time that wasn’t devoted to the college baseball season. Head coach of a top college team is a year-round job. He’ll be relieved of many of the duties he performed at Tennessee.
The Giants made 12 road trips in 2025, several of those were fairly easy trips to LA, SD, AZ, and Sacramento. Teams travel by charter jet these days. Yes it is a grind, but one I think you might be exaggerating.
I’m not talking about the personal toll on him physically. I’m talking about leading his players through that grind. How will he establish credibility with them when he’s never done it himself?
So it really comes down to Buster Posey, who has experienced the grind, believing that Vitello is capable, as opposed to you, who disagrees. I think I’ll trust Posey on this one.
I think Posey is trying to make a bold move for the sake of making a bold move. If they were a rebuilding team on the cusp of their breakout, I’d be intrigued. But this is an older, big market high payroll team that intends to compete next year. It’s just so wildly risky and could go really badly. My other concern is that he’s spent his entire life coaching upper middle class suburban and rural white kids. How’s he gonna do with a roster that almost half from poor Latin American countries? Does he even speak Spanish? I could easily see him losing the clubhouse by July.
I disagree. I don’t think Posey would do anything just for the sake of a bold move. He’s a smart guy, who’s made a ton money since his retirement. Not that that has anything to do with it.
You need more recent information. The Giants are not an older team. They’re about average in age ranking as the 11th youngest overall. And being young isn’t really that good. The Guards ranked 4th youngest are the only playoff team in the top 8 youngest. With the M’s, Astros, Phils, Cubs, Yankees, Jays, Rangers, Padres, Mets, and Dodgers all among the 10 oldest teams, with LA being the oldest.
I understand, you don’t think Posey is making a wise decision. I don’t know if he is or not, but he was a ML catcher for 12 years, knows what’s involved, and I would think has delved deeply into Vitello’s strength’s, weaknesses, and personality. So, unlike you, I tend to trust him to make the right decision, but realize there are no guarantees.
Should Posey hire Tony Vitello his #22 worn at Tennessee is not available with the Giants. #22 belonged to Wil Clark & was retired in 2022
It’s kind of silly that baseball managers even wear uniforms with numbers on them. In no other sport that I can think of does the coach/manager wear a playing uniform. It would be kind of funny to see football coaches wearing pads and a helmet or basketball coaches in shorts and a tank top.
Guys I would make a great manager. I am personally about 95% on getting replay reviews right on my couch. And the 5% I got wrong was cuz NY screwed it up! Also, whenever I say which reliever to bring in they do about 60% of the time. The 40% they didn’t was cuz the manager was misinformed. If each game was managed exactly to my liking, the Tigers would have probably been at 120-42. And the 42 losses were simply because the owner won’t spend more money.
Huge gamble, good luck S.F.