SF Giants' Vitello Stays Firm After Monday's Remarks
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Manager Tony Vitello started his media availability on Tuesday morning by addressing his controversial comments from the previous day regarding his departure from Tennessee.
"I think you've got to pick and choose your battles," Vitello said. "It's not a big deal to me. You can't change the past, and no one's going to convince me otherwise that all that was inappropriate. I'm focused on baseball, not on those past events."
"Yesterday's conversation was just a regular discussion, something I'd like to have with you all daily. But, as I mentioned, it doesn't alter the fact that Tennessee has a strong team and excellent leadership. I was fortunate to join the most successful organization in MLB history, based on the stats."
Vitello began his availability on Monday with an unprompted, three-minute complaint about the circumstances of his final days as Tennessee's head coach.
On October 18th, four days before his official hiring, The Athletic reported that the Giants were 'closing in' on Vitello as their 40th manager. However, the report didn't confirm that he had been hired. When informed about this, Vitello responded, 'I'm not throwing any water bottles.' He admitted to not reading any of that day's reports.
When asked to clarify a cryptic comment from Monday, where he mentioned a tweet that could have altered history, Vitello explained, 'Maybe how things were left. I wouldn't take my words too seriously. We were discussing Lil Wayne yesterday. The facts remain the same. Anyone would react similarly. It didn't impact our agreement with Buster or my decision to join. It was just a coincidence."
Vitello mentioned that he didn't receive any feedback from players or front office members about his comments, stating that he 'didn't say anything surprising' and 'was just stating the facts.' He didn't elaborate on why he chose to air his grievances on Monday, only saying, 'Maybe something triggered it.'
"It's always better to get things off your chest than let them fester," Vitello said. "Despite being Italian, I'm also Irish, so I'm good at keeping things buried deep inside."
When asked about his thick skin, Vitello mentioned college coaches like Augie Garrido and Dave Van Horn, suggesting they have 'thicker skin' than him. However, he didn't directly answer the question. Vitello explained that he doesn't read everything due to his busy schedule and personal choice.
In other news, the MLBPA executive director, Tony Clark, is expected to resign, according to The Athletic, approximately 10 months before the collective bargaining agreement expires. This development could lead to a prolonged labor dispute, potentially resulting in the loss of regular-season games.
Additionally, first baseman Dominic Smith, who played for the Giants last season, signed a one-year minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday morning.
