Giants’ Buster Posey reportedly swayed by Tony Vitello’s bold Dodgers pitch in major power play originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco Giants are in the process of finding their next manager after parting ways with Bob Melvin. The Giants caught fire in August but ended the season on a downward spiral. For that reason, the organization decided it was the right time to make a change.
“After careful evaluation, we determined that making a change in leadership was in the best interest of the team,” said Posey. “The last couple of months have been both disappointing and frustrating for all of us, and we did not perform up to our standards. We now turn our focus to identifying a new leader to guide us forward.”
From the start, Tony Vitello has been a name to watch. Initially, his chances seemed like a long shot, but now it appears Vitello may be waiting for a substantial contract offer from the Giants.
“Vitello almost certainly will not be paid as an entry-level hire. He is the second-highest-paid coach in Division I with an annual salary of more than $3 million, and he is leaving the comfort of his fiefdom for a job that offers anything but stability. Vitello was already making more than half the managers in the major leagues; given the cost of living in San Francisco and what he’d be leaving behind, it’s not impossible to believe that he will command one of the top salaries among his new cohort,” The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly wrote.
With limited managerial experience, Vitello needed to set himself apart. John Shea of the San Francisco Standard revealed the pitch that, according to a source, Vitello used to win over Posey.
“He’s the guy who probably convinced Buster Posey he could beat the Dodgers,” an industry source said. “No doubt in my mind that he walked in and said that. Just give me the horses.”
It’s an intriguing pitch — and one that seems to have resonated. Vitello exudes confidence, which is a major reason his Tennessee program has remained at the top of college baseball for years.
Taming a powerhouse like the Dodgers will be far more challenging, but Vitello isn’t one to back down. He’s proven himself as an elite head coach at Tennessee, and many believe he can bring that same energy to the MLB level. One thing is certain: Vitello isn’t afraid to be transparent.
