Giants fans just got a glimpse of the Tony Vitello Tennessee fans fell in love with, and it was much-needed after a tough week
Former Tennessee Volunteers baseball coach Tony Vitello had a moment on Wednesday that showed why he was hired by the San Francisco Giants this past fall.
Tony Vitello had a moment on Wednesday night that gave San Francisco Giants fans a glimpse of why Tennessee Vols fans fell in love with him.
And it was much-needed after what’s been a tough week for Vitello and the Giants.
Earlier this week, Vitello had to deal with a bizarre situation after first baseman Rafael Devers refused to come out of the game for a pinch runner.
The incident received quite a bit of attention, though Devers eventually smoothed things over with Vitello by apologizing.
Vitello made light of the controversy with a classic Tony V quip on Wednesday night after the Giants’ win over the A’s.
With the Giants trailing 1-0, Devers tied the game with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the 9th.
The Giants went on to win the game via a Victor Bericoto walk-off home run.
After the game, Vitello joked with reporters that he told Devers he was going to pinch run for him if he got on base in the 9th.
Devers, of course, didn’t require a pinch runner after hitting a home run.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say the best coaching moment of the night was we told [Devers] that if he got on first base we were going to pinch run for him,” said Vitello. “And that was that at-bat in the 9th.
“You (pointing to reporter) gave a courtesy laugh right there to that. That was a joke.”
That’s the loose and carefree Vitello that Tennessee fans saw for eight seasons in Knoxville.
I’m still skeptical that Vitello will work out longterm in San Francisco — much of that is because I don’t think Buster Posey, the Giants’ President of Baseball Operations, will survive for much longer (and he’s the man who hired Vitello) — but moments like this show why the former Tennessee coach landed the San Francisco job in the first place.