Speaking at the San Francisco Giants’ Spring Training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., Tony Vitello made it clear that the competition for the backup catcher role is very much underway.
“You know, it is just that, competition,” the Giants’ first-year manager said. “You got varying degrees of experience back there.”
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Vitello pointed to Daniel Susac’s baseball background and Eric Haase’s veteran presence as examples of the depth in camp. “Susac comes from a really good baseball family,” he said, while adding that Haase “has got a strong reputation” for how he handles himself behind the plate.
For Vitello, that internal push is intentional. “Options are always a good thing,” he said. “I think internally you got some guys that’ll push each other.”
When asked whether he prefers a defense-first backup catcher — especially with an elite defender like Patrick Bailey starting — Vitello didn’t hesitate.
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Video courtesy of NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
“As it stands now, my background has always been defense first with that position,” he said, referencing his early coaching days as a pitching coach. “Those guys are so essential in so many different ways. But if they can contribute defensively, then everything they do offensively, to me, is icing on the cake.”
Bailey’s defensive reputation is well established, and Vitello called his recent work “off the charts.” Offensively, the evaluation is more nuanced.
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“I think you look at his BP… it’s a clean swing, quite frankly, impressive,” Vitello said. “He feels really good about where he’s at with his swing.”
Rather than overhauling mechanics, Vitello believes the next step is mental. “It’s not just about being a confident hitter,” he explained. “It’s managing the weight of the catcher gear, literally, but more figuratively of that position. It’s a balancing act.”
Repetition, he added, is critical. “As a hitter, at any level, repetitions are the most valuable thing.”
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The potential impact of the automated ball-strike (ABS) system also surfaced. Vitello acknowledged the unknowns. “I don’t think we know until we see it,” he said. Still, his evaluation remains simple: “If I’m a pitcher, I’d want to throw to that guy.”
As for weighing familiarity with the organization when selecting a backup, Vitello said it factors in “a little bit,” but ultimately, “it just becomes more the best person for the job.”
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