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When the Giants hired Tony Vitello to replace Bob Melvin last October, fans spent five months wondering how different the club might look with a former college coach at the helm.
If the first weekend of games is any indication, it may take a while for Vitello to make his mark.
The Giants lost all three matchups with the Yankees, scored just one run, and looked overmatched against New York’s excellent pitching staff. After back-to-back shutouts to open the series, Vitello indicated the Giants were considering tweaking the lineup, but the only change ahead of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat was a reordering of the same starting nine that was overwhelmed by Max Fried and Cam Schlittler on Wednesday and Friday.
Vitello entered the series with four right-handed hitters available off his bench, and none took an at-bat against New York.
Aaron Boone turned to Tim Hill, a funky left-hander with a deceptive delivery, in the seventh inning on Friday and again on Saturday. Opposing lefties have a .584 OPS against Hill in his career, and Jung Hoo Lee entered the season with a sub-.600 OPS against southpaws. Each at-bat seemed like an opportunity for Vitello to deploy right-handed slugger Jerar Encarnación off the bench, but the rookie manager stuck with his starter.
After grounding out on Friday against Hill, Lee struck out on three pitches on Saturday.
With the Giants trailing 3-1 in the ninth inning on Saturday, the first two batters of the inning reached base against Yankees closer David Bednar. Vitello had another chance to use Encarnación off the bench when catcher Patrick Bailey — who was 0-for-8 in the series — came to the plate with one out.
The manager made a substitution, but not the one most fans expected. Jared Oliva entered to pinch run for Willy Adames at first base, who represented the tying run. Adames appeared stunned by the decision, telling reporters he couldn’t remember another time he had been replaced on the bases.
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Adames was removed as a baserunner once before, with Tampa Bay in 2019, but that exit came on the final day of the season when managers routinely pull regulars from games.
With Encarnación standing in the on-deck circle — poised to hit for Casey Schmitt — Bailey bounced into a game-ending double play.
Former Giants manager Gabe Kapler became a polarizing figure among fans for constantly hunting platoon advantages, even subbing out franchise legend Brandon Crawford for little-known utility man Mark Mathias in 2023. Buster Posey didn’t hire Vitello to imitate Kapler, and the club doesn’t want to crush the confidence of Lee, Bailey, or any other trusted starter in the early days of the season.
After losing three in a row, expect at least some minor tweaks this week in San Diego.
Until the Giants win, every move Vitello makes — and doesn’t — will be closely scrutinized.