Tony Vitello gives nonsensical reason for why SF Giants are benching Bryce Eldridge

It seemed like the SF Giants couldn’t bungle the way they are handling top prospect Bryce Eldridge any further, but here we are. Eldridge is out of the lineup on Tuesday night as the Giants face the Arizona Diamondbacks a night after Eldridge went 2-for-4 at the plate and Tony Vitello's reasoning for the decision makes absolutely no sense.

The reason manager Tony Vitello gave for sitting Eldridge is that right-handed D-backs starter Ryne Nelson is known for being tough against lefties. Okay, but they are still putting Drew Gilbert and Will Brennan, two lefties, out there when they could have opted to put Casey Schmitt out in left field again and put either Gilbert or Brennan in right which would make room for Eldridge as the designated hitter.

That rationale seems even sillier when one considers the fact that the Giants had Eldridge start against both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two of the best pitchers in the game, in their recent series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants obviously are trying to go with their best defensive configuration by having both Gilbert and Brennan in the outfield which makes some sense, but with the offense being as inconsistent and anemic as it is one would think they’d try to put their best nine hitters out there as much as possible.

It's clear the Giants do not have a plan for Eldridge

At some point the Giants are going to have to make a decision on how they want to proceed. This janky sort of approach they are taking with Eldridge where he starts a game or two then comes off the bench does not seem good for his development. Giants insiders are questioning the approach, as are national baseball insiders, and fans on social media are certainly frustrated.

Maybe this will all sort itself out soon enough. Perhaps an injury or a trade will open up a more permanent spot in the lineup for Eldridge and he will get the opportunity to play every day and figure things out. 

But for right now he can’t be loving the whiplash he’s experiencing. He’s saying all the right things but it is beginning to become clear that Vitello and the Buster Posey-led front office do not have a very cohesive plan for how to develop Eldridge.

They should come up with one soon otherwise fan outrage is going to grow even higher especially if the team keeps on getting blown out like they did on Monday night. 

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