It’s been a rough start to San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello’s MLB career. The Giants are now 3-7 and in last place in the National League West after their loss to the New York Mets on April 5.
The loss to New York was San Francisco’s third straight, dropping four of their last five. It was also their second series loss of the season.
That’s not exactly how Vitello wanted to begin his move to the majors after spending the last eight seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers.
This loss to the Mets, though, wasn’t just significant because it pushed the Giants further back in the NL West race — it also marked Vitello’s first MLB ejection.
And it might be remembered even more for how he explained it.
Tony Vitello’s First MLB Ejection Comes With Unusual Explanation
Vitello was tossed after arguing a call involving Jerar Encarnación running to first base. Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán fielded the ball and threw to first baseman Mark Vientos, who couldn’t secure the catch. Despite that, first base umpire Nestor Ceja ruled Encarnación out for running outside the basepath.
The call itself wasn’t really in dispute.
Even the Giants’ broadcast acknowledged it was enforced correctly in real time. Vitello admitted as much after the game — but his frustration came from past experiences.
“I’m sure he got it exactly technically right,” said Vitello (via The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly). “It’s just a play I’ve got a lot of history for. … Lost a game to Lipscomb on that play, lost the game to (Oklahoma State coach) Frank Anderson and a Big 12 championship on that play. The difference between the two that I’m talking about, and I can talk about others, is the runner. In Frank’s instance — and I’ve called his team cheaters — (the runner) completely interfered with the throwing lane for the pitcher. So again, umpires are held accountable by what the rules are, and they enforce those rules.
“And again, I don’t want to replay. I’m sure they did it 100 percent to the tee, but you know, from my perspective, for plays between the mound and the third-base line, you know, the runner’s not going to have much to do with it.
“I said one last thing, just out of frustration or being all fired up. It was complete nonsense. I think it was misinterpreted a little bit, but (if) you’re on the field that long and you’re not a player, you’re probably out of place a little bit.”
So while Vitello acknowledged the call was correct, his reaction was tied more to his past situations at the college level than what actually happened in the game.
Tony Vitello’s MLB Transition Already Facing Early Scrutiny
That explanation quickly drew criticism, with CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder questioning why Vitello leaned on his college background in that moment.
“Mr. Vitello, sir … what are you doing?” Snyder wrote. “This is the big leagues… College is college. The pros are the pros.”
Vitello’s entire coaching career prior to this season came at the college level, starting as an assistant at Missouri in 2003 before building Tennessee into a national power.
That jump was always going to come with a learning curve — and through 10 games, it’s been evident.
As Snyder noted, it’s still early. The Giants have 152 games left and enough talent on paper to turn things around. But the early returns haven’t inspired much confidence.
“The bottom line right now, though, is that the Vitello hiring at the time was a huge risk and right now it looks like a mistake,” Snyder continued. “Time will tell if that remains the case, but the start has been inauspicious.”
For Vitello, the adjustment to the majors was always going to be under the microscope.
Just 10 games in, it definitely already is.
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