Tony Vitello's SF Giants lineup decisions are becoming impossible to defend

With the SF Giants struggling so badly with no end in sight, it can feel somewhat pointless to take issue with manager Tony Vitello’s lineup decisions. This team is so bad that it seems like it really wouldn’t even make that much of a difference whoever he put out there.

Vitello has taken quite a bit of heat for lineup decisions especially since general manager Zack Minasian threw him under the bus and said that Vitello is the one making the lineup.

Fans on social media are well aware that anytime Bryce Eldridge is not in the lineup there is going to be uproar, but the fact that Vitello kept both Eldridge and Jung Hoo Lee out of the lineup on Tuesday night is an impossible decision to defend.

There's no justifcation for Vitello benching Eldridge and Lee

Eldridge and Lee have been the team’s two hottest hitters as of late. Both guys went off over the weekend against the Colorado Rockies and yet Vitello decided to put them on the bench. Yes, the Giants were going against a tough left-handed pitcher in Kyle Harrison who reminded the Giants exactly what they gave up in the Rafael Devers trade over the course of 5 and 2/3 dominant innings in which he struck out 12 batters including Devers three times.

But even with Harrison on the mound, left-handed hitters have actually fared better against him than right-handed hitters entering the contest. Plus, Eldridge has had some really good at-bats against lefties this year and his minor league stats show he can hit against lefties.

Lee is a contact hitter whose average is worse against lefties than righties but it’s not like he is completely inept, say the way Drew Gilbert is, when facing southpaws.

Vitello is in a bit of a tough spot because the Giants called up outfielders Victor Bericoto and Jonah Cox and they also just called up Buddy Kennedy. If those guys aren’t going to start against lefties then they probably aren’t going to play at all. Still, going with Kennedy as the designated hitter over Eldridge just feels sort of silly and it’s not a coincidence that when Eldridge and Lee entered the game later, albeit against a right-handed reliever, they both drove in runs.

When a team is 15 games under .500 like the Giants are, every move is going to be scrutinized. While Vitello hasn’t really been put in the best position to succeed he has made some questionable decisions and at this rate it wouldn’t be a total shock if he doesn’t make it through this season.

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