Nationally, during this disaster of a season, there has been some speculation that the San Francisco Giants could pull the plug on their unique gamble of hiring the green Tony Vitello as their manager after just one season.
In total, that mindset seemed shortsighted and a knee-jerk reaction. Yet, after this week’ massive roster overhaul by Giants’ president of baseball operation Buster Posey is actually a strong indication that the franchise is fully behind Vitello, who came to San Francisco this year with no professional experience.
In fact, this moves this week are actually an investment in the skills and reputation of Vitello, who left a comfortable and successful stint at the University of Tennessee to dip his toes in the Major Leagues.
Sure, Vitello has shown his lack of pro experience this year and he’s had more of his share of growing pains, but the Giants are clearly putting their future in his hands.
San Francisco orchestrated five trades at the deadline and, by all accounts they did a tremendous job of adding several high-end, big-time potential prospects in the form of both pitching and everyday players. The team went into the deadline with a one of the better farm systems in the league and now it is bubbling over with serious prospects.
This team will be very young for a while and that’s where Vitello comes in. He is an expert at developing and dealing with younger players. That s his strength. So, he will be able to grow into his major league managerial approach, while working with and developing younger players. Vitello and his players will grow together.
By the time these players are ready to make a serious run, Vitello should be fully comfortable in his role.
This is the type of team Vitello needed to inherit from the jump. It took a rocky fit to finally put the Vitello plan on track n San Francisco. It may take a while to payoff, but this week has shown neither he nor Posey are going anywhere anytime soon.