Giants announcer just dropped some truth that Tony Vitello badly needs to hear
Former Tennessee Volunteers baseball coach Tony Vitello is in his first season as the manager of the San Francisco Giants.
There’s been plenty of speculation over the last few weeks about former Tennessee Vols coach Tony Vitello’s future in MLB.
The San Francisco Giants are among the worst teams in MLB in Vitello’s first season as the franchise’s manager.
An underperforming roster is the biggest reason for the Giants’ struggles, but Vitello’s also had some uneven moments as he adjusts to life in the big leagues.
I’ve written numerous times that I believe Vitello is better suited to be a college baseball coach. And that’s no slight against Vitello — I’m a big fan of Tony V and everything that he’s about as a person and as a coach — I just think his personality fits the college game better.
And the biggest reason I think that is because Vitello just hasn’t been the Vitello we saw at Tennessee — which was my fear when he took the job with the Giants.
Vitello even admitted earlier this season that he’s had to change in the big leagues.
The only way Vitello is going to find success in MLB is if he stays true to who he is, which is why he should probably listen to what Giants play-by-play announcer Dave Fleming had to say this week.
“If Tony ever asked me, which hopefully he doesn’t, but if he ever asks me [for advice],” said Fleming. “I just want to see Tony be himself — be his authentic self. I think he’s been so deferential to all of the veterans around him — veteran coaches and veteran players — and I understand why. [He’s] new to this. … but the Giants hired him to be him. And I think that’s happening more and more. And I love to see that. That’s what I want.
“As a Giants fan, what I want to see from Tony is just be comfortable to be himself and take true leadership of this team. … I am looking forward to the second half of this season. I think it’s important for him to keep taking those steps forward. From the outside, I think he’s getting more and more comfortable, and I want to see more of that.”
I’m sure it’s been tough for Vitello to be the same guy in San Francisco that he was in the Tennessee dugout for eight seasons. But that’s who the Giants hired, and that’s who they need Vitello to be.