SF Giants beat writer shares why Tony Vitello might finally finding his footing as manager

It has been a disastrous season for the SF Giants, but Tony Vitello might finally be finding comfort in his new role. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic joined the Dirty Work Show on KNBR on Thursday and expressed that managing a younger roster now might be helping him adjust.

Baggarly has questioned whether Vitello has been too non-confrontational with veteran players. To some degree, this sentiment has been shared by other Giants beat writers.

Even Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic has heard from sources inside and outside of the organization that believe Vitello is too deferential to veteran players. She then wonders if this has led to the rookie manager losing the clubhouse.

This aspect of Vitello's first season at the helm is a fair critique, and there are quite a few examples of this. Perhaps, the most notable example has been his inability to sit Willy Adames, even as he continues to grade out as one of the worst defenders in baseball. It is admirable that Adames wants to be out there every day, but his presence on defense is hurting the Giants.

SF Giants manager Tony Vitello has struggled to manage veteran players in his first season in charge

It has become highly questionable at this point as to why Vitello, or Buster Posey, has not attempted to give Adames more time off. In fairness, Adames missed a few games recently, but that was because he was unable to play. The baseball season is a grind, and it does not hurt to give struggling players some extra time off here and there to catch a mental reset.

That extra time off has not necessarily been an option, as Adames continues to push to be in the lineup every day.

That is just one example of Vitello wanting to avoid a potential confrontation with a veteran player. Of course, the dynamic of the roster has shifted since the trade deadline. The Giants moved a handful of veterans in trades. Plus, another veteran, Matt Chapman, is on the injured list.

This iteration of the roster is younger and arguably a better fit for Vitello's strengths. Andrew Baggarly noted that he might feel more comfortable calling out the team when the roster is no longer filled with a bunch of veterans.

The rookie Giants manager was critical of the team's play last weekend after they dropped the series finale by a score of 13-7 to the Colorado Rockies. They walked 10 batters and hit another, which led to Mike Krukow labeling it a "disgusting" brand of baseball.

Vitello was less critical, but likened the play from that game to junior college. He then added that he was not taking a shot at junior college players, as he went down that route as well.

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