By Jack Loder
It was hard not to smile as Tony Vitello spoke in intricate, almost poetic detail following the Giants’ 7-2 victory over the Mets on Thursday night. He strolled into the presser with a sheepish grin, a few minutes behind schedule. “Alright, slight delay. Sorry.” The delay was no more than a few minutes, but it was clear Vitello was coming from a party.
Rookies Blade Tidwell and Daniel Susac made it clear in the locker room why Vitello was a bit tardy. Just like the rookie manager had enjoyed (endured?) a few days prior in San Diego after his first career win, Tidwell and Susac were drenched with an avalanche of beer, condiments, and whatever else the mischievous Giants’ vets could think to concoct. It sure seems like a locker room that was a bit “too fired up” after two games, has loosened up considerably.
Vitello spent the next 15 minutes answering questions, offering insight, and sharing a “conspiracy theory” about the motive of his team’s big first inning at the plate. He was firm when elaborating on the potential of Susac, and then insightful again when talking about taking in a moment with his former college arm Blade Tidwell.
He described in great detail the process that he and those above him in the organization went about when identifying Susac as a backup option behind the dish. He speaks intentionally, something he reiterated before clearly stating that Susac would be a weapon for this team. “I try to speak candidly with you all. I don’t like saying stuff just to say it. That guy can be a weapon for us. I wouldn’t say that unless people smarter than me said it and I didn’t believe it with my whole heart as well.”
It was clear at Tennessee, and it’s becoming increasingly clear now as a big league skipper, that Vitello leads with that heart. When he’s spoken with media this spring, it’s been a unique blend of calculated and uninhibited, one that came off as annoying for a day in February, but has quickly become endearing and charmingly youthful in diction.
Last week, Vitello casually invoked Kanye West in a postgame chat with writers. On Thursday night, it was Tiger Woods. Woods’ recent DUI arrest has made headlines for a week now, a public image issue that dawned on Vitello literally as the name left his mouth. He was comparing slugger Rafael Devers to Woods in the best of ways, and the qualifier wasn’t even really needed, but damn was it funny.
With Rafi, I mention golf, ya know Tiger– oh. I guess bad timing,” Vitello said as the room erupted in laughter. He grinned and re-phrased. “Like other athletes when things are going good, Rafi is pretty good about getting fired up at himself, and then calming things down quick.”
He doesn’t just riff. There’s ample analysis and transparency regarding his decisions in the postgame pressers as well. When asked why Ryan Walker, who precariously closed Monday’s first win of the season, was inserted into the game in the sixth inning with one out, Vitello strategically brushed aside the idea that it was an official demotion for Walker (it likely is) and highlighted that the radically different arm slots of Walker and starter Robbie Ray would likely throw off a potent Mets lineup.
Earlier in the day, Vitello opened his pregame availability by acknowledging that he felt a medium sized earthquake centered near Santa Cruz the night before. He lit up and launched into a story of when he’d felt a quake while scouting High Schoolers at the Area Code games in Long Beach years before. He will likely develop more of a filter as his career in the pros progresses, but for now he says what he thinks. For better or worse. Most of the time, it’s been for the better.
