SF Giants manager Tony Vitello just gave Hayden Birdsong a major wake up call

While this article will come with the obligatory stipulation that it is still early, SF Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong is off to a very rough start in spring training. Manager Tony Vitello gave Birdsong a wake up call after his second straight tough outing.

In Birdsong's first spring outing, he gave up five earned runs including a grand slam and did not make it out of the first inning. The hope was that he could turn things around in his second outing on Thursday but that was not the case.

Pitching against the Colorado Rockies, Birdsong gave up three earned runs in one inning of work while allowing four hits, including one homer, and a walk.

SF Giants manager Tony Vitello gives Hayden Birdsong a wake up call

Speaking to reporters after the game, Vitello gave one quote on Birdsong's outing that really stuck out: "But as far as just watching body language, presence, how he threw the ball, I think he’s capable of better."

It's one thing to acknowledge that a player is not performing well or is struggling with mechanics, but to note that their body language is not good is a different thing altogether. It speaks to a lack of confidence and also a lack of immaturity with the young pitcher.

Coaches at least want their players to be professionals when they are out there and that particularly applies to pitchers. It's easy to conduct yourself positively when you are dealing on the mound, but how you handle your emotions and body language in the middle of a rough outing shows coaches how you deal with adversity and whether you can turn things around when you're struggling.

While it is understandable that Birdsong is not going to have a big grin on his face and be doing cartwheels when he's getting shelled, the best pitchers can rebound from that and do not let it affect them. It's okay to get mad and frustrated, but if you start to let those emotions negatively impact your next pitch then a coach is going to take notice and call you out for it.

That's exactly what Vitello did and gives us a glimpse of the kind of manager he will be. He seems like a guy who is going to hold players accountable and let them know if he is seeing things he does not like.

As of right now, Birdsong will need to turn things around in a big way if he wants to make the Opening Day roster. Other young pitchers like Blade Tidwell have impressed in Arizona so Birdsong will have to make up a lot of ground.

Maybe a conversation between Vitello and Birdsong is all that's needed to help get the young pitcher back on track. He has the talent, but maybe the mindset needs some tweaking before he can be a contributor at the big league level again.