SAN FRANCISCO — Tony Vitello fully admits he is an unconventional call-up to Major League Baseball, to jump From the college coaching ranks in Tennessee san francisco giants Bypassing the minor leagues.
Still, Vitello is hardly fazed by the pressure of taking such a difficult path. “It’s a challenge that’s been presented to me,” he said in his introductory press conference with the Giants on Thursday.
He plans to join his Giants team for a quick offseason practice, taking batting practice or hitting fungo to help improve some fundamentals.
After 47-year-old Vitello took the job with no professional experience as a player or coach, it became clear that his skills far exceeded his players’ abilities. He plans to lean on the team’s experienced leaders to guide those who may need some extra help.
Vitello also has some solid options, including veteran matt chapman, Willie Adams And logan webb,
“I think we’re getting into this era where the fundamentals and the way people train are completely different,” Vitello said. “You see increases in velo, power, speed and things like that.
“I think there are some things that are lost as a kid growing up about how to slide and how to do things that seem extremely simple. If you haven’t practiced it, you haven’t been taught it, how are you going to be good at it? How can you be expected to be good at it? I think [for] Some of them are young players, there needs to be more emphasis on that.”
Along with bringing the Giants back to prominence and playoff success – yes, this topic came up in discussion with the President of Baseball Operations buster posey As they look to make some noise in the National League West next season – everyone involved will be hoping to see some long-term stability in the managerial position after some change in recent years.
Posey has also been in the role for just over a year, following Farhan Zaidi’s ouster last year.
Giants fire manager Bob Melvin In his second season they went 81–81 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. San Francisco has not reached the postseason since winning the NL West with a franchise-record 107 wins to defeat the rival Dodgers by one game in 2021 under Gabe Kapler.
“We’re all going to work together. The whole goal is to create a bond between everyone at the top versus who you think is at the bottom of the depth chart,” Vitello said. “We’re together now, whether you like me or not.”
Vitello, who is animated and high-energy, acknowledged there will be a steep learning curve and regular adjustments. He also knows that motivating college athletes won’t be the same as finding ways to motivate professionals who have been doing it for decades.
His vision at Tennessee: “Train people as individuals.”
“I’m very aware of the tradition, the excellence here,” said Vitello, who will guide the Tennessee Volunteers to a national championship in 2024.
Throughout his life, Vitello has watched his father, Greg, coach and then play games, analyzing what he might have done differently. Vitello admitted that his mother, Kathy, sometimes wishes her son would tone it down.
“When we first started talking to Tony, it was very clear that he was a natural leader,” Posey said.
He can’t wait to embrace Bay Area life as a music lover and self-described foodie. And Vitello has aspirations of jumping into the bay to blow off some steam and burn some calories and complete the Alcatraz swim.
Giants general manager Jack Minasian first pitched the idea of hiring Vitello to Posey.
“Although it seems out-of-the-box, Tony’s name has been bouncing around Major League Baseball for some time,” Minasian said.
Vitello said he and Posey had a great conversation after Game 7 of the American League Championship Series between Toronto and Seattle and the conversation progressed. Posey liked Vitello’s general approach.
Posey said, “The unique thing about this process was, and that’s something I really appreciated about Tony. And honestly I felt more confident in the decision, whether it was difficult to get a hold of him because he was on the field all the time or because he was traveling from city to city recruiting.” “And just because he had it on his plate, he was still doing his job perfectly at Tennessee, and I have a lot of respect for that.”
During his various media sessions Thursday, Vitello referenced everyone from Barry Bonds, Willie Mays and Will Clark to Tim Lincecum, Sergio Romo and Brian Wilson.
“One thing that always struck me was the feeling of family that was always a part of this organization,” Vitello said.
So, it was only fitting that their parents, sisters, nieces and extended family were there in the front row to cheer them on. Later, they were all smiles when they were served lunch, including their namesake – from San Francisco’s Tony’s Pizza Napoletana.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
