The SF Giants are taking a gamble on their new manager Tony Vitello. For a fanbase desperate to see the team make it back to the playoffs, this young energetic coach may be exciting, but not everyone is completely sold.
In Andrew Baggarly’s latest article for The Athletic, he asked long-time Giants general manager Brian Sabean what he thought of the Giants hiring Vitello. Here is what Sabean had to say:
“That’s a great flag to be planted, but do I know or think the sport is ready for people right out of college? I don’t know. Without experiencing minor-league baseball or professional baseball, with the schedule and the nature of the calendar, you’re a world away. Is it possible? In these times, sure. I guess bring in the best candidates on your list and see where it falls. But having said that, I don’t know.”
Former SF Giants GM Brian Sabean expresses uncertainty about Vitello
Sabean’s uncertainty is really the only honest reaction to the Giants hiring Vitello. With no modern precedent for a move like this, no one can really say with any degree of certainty whether this hiring will be a stroke of brilliance or a horrible mistake.
As GM of the Giants from 1997 to 2014, Sabean only had to select a new manager twice. He replaced Dusty Baker with Felipe Alou in 2003 and then replaced Alou with Bruce Bochy in 2007. That turned out to be one of the best moves in franchise history as Bochy led the team to three World Series titles.
Even though Sabean is firmly of the old guard, he does not reject the idea that Vitello could be successful. His uncertainty is natural and anyone loudly proclaiming that Vitello will be a certain success or failure does not know better than anyone else.
Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow has warned of the issues that could come with Vitello given his lack of experience in professional baseball. There is inevitably going to be a learning curve for Vitello as he adjusts to a new ballpark, longer season, and new players. The vibe of major league baseball is also much less rah-rah than what he is used to from the college ranks, although part of the reason he was hired was likely to bring a bit more energy to the team.
A big factor will be the people Vitello surrounds himself with. If he has some experienced coaches on his staff that could help balance out his own inexperience and provide some reassurance for veteran players who may be a little more on the fence.
We will likely get more clarity on what that staff will look like soon, but Sabean’s uncertainty about how the Vitello hire will work out is fair given we have never really seen something like this before in the major leagues.
