Who's the one that got away?
Tony Vitello will be happy to let you know.
Tony Vitello is wearing a Giants cap and hoodie. He’s roaming the practice fields in Scottsdale. He’s answering questions about the team he agreed to lead for the next three years.
So why does he keep talking about the University of Tennessee, his former employer, like The One That Got Away?
He settled into his Monday media scrum by asking reporters a question.
When did you first think I was taking this job?
He proceeded to go on for several minutes, lamenting how the news leaked before he agreed to anything, how it could’ve “changed the course of history” if he knew who leaked, and how “the final blow” (agreeing to his contract) didn’t come until several days after the initial report.
Um, a few questions for the new manager:
• Would you really have stayed in Tennessee if you found out who leaked?
• Are you describing the offer to be a first-of-its-kind major league manager as “the final blow?”
• Do you know who’s going to be your closer? Or where Luis Arraez will bat? Or how you plan to challenge ball and strike calls this season?
What’re we doing, Tony V? It’s a bad look.
At best, he comes across like someone trying to clarify something only he needed clarification on. At worst, he sounds like someone trying to convince himself he didn’t make a mistake.
Maybe Buster Posey is doing the same thing.
🎧 Podcast: Kerry and I recorded before Tony V’s remarks on Monday, so you won’t hear anything about that. Instead we’re passing the Kool-Aid around. We get into what we’re excited about with this team, and how the Giants should use the new challenge system.
Please listen to this entire interview. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EPm4Qvs29vyz0eb4BxxpF?si=ff68fd8a6b9b42f7&nd=1&dlsi=3f0461d73c7340eb
Ask Kerry to do the same. Discuss on next pod pls. Fascinating how Tony V is so much more relaxed, transparent with TN media: provides granular details on how they work with Posey/front office. Sounds like FO is driving players roles w/input from TV/coaching staff = Zaidi/Kapler, except fans love Posey so it’s OK!
Why isn’t Baggs, who has a cult following and sets the tone for Giants coverage, including these facts Tony V detailed? Reminds me why he didn’t cover Melvin’s Eyewash. A feature story on players prepared Standing for Anthem was more important. Anti-Kapler narrative wins.
Huge Kerry/Shea fan but Kerry’s uni patch story included the collapse of the 2023 Giants. Not mentioned: 79 wins vs 2025 Giants: 81. Shea drops a lot of Zaidi/Kapler negative references. Not a fan of FZ/GK, but Kapler got more wins out of his less talented, injured-riddled 2023 roster vs Melvin’s 2025 Giants: Fangraphs Giants MLB healthiest by WAR. Standard/Athletic focuses more on: Winning the presser vs winning games.
Luckily for Giants fans, some Padres podcasts/YT focusing more on manager personality/likeability vs winning. If SD follows same path and ignores any “invisible slippage” Padres could turn into 2021 or 2023.
Please tell Sam Blum his coverage of the Angels wasn’t “too negative.” Nor is your podcast with Kerry “too negative.” Baseball is a business! Webb: Bochy, Kapler, Melvin: 1 postseason under Kapler. Pavs, who usually has calm takes, emphasizes how Bochy/Melvin ran their pressers better vs Kapler, Vitello. Melvin was more concise; TV rambles. If Giants make postseason with TV rambling, will anyone care? If Giants face a lot of adversity, how will Posey, players feel about TV’s ramblings since Posey told KNBR, V didn’t ramble.
Yes, I ramble too. Takes one to know one! At least TV and I admit it and don’t “sugarcoat” it.