"SAN FRANCISCO - Tony Vitello had a feeling something was brewing. Following the Giants' firing of Bob Melvin, Vitello boarded a flight to the East Coast on a recruiting trip. The plane had no Wi-Fi, leaving Vitello briefly disconnected to the world. Upon landing, a text message from Buster Posey awaited. "The season had ended, they had made some moves, and I kind of just said, 'Oh hell' to myself. 'Here we go, this could be something,'" Vitello recalled."
"Several weeks after Posey sent that text, the Giants officially introduced Vitello as the 40th manager in franchise history on Thursday afternoon. Vitello's résumé features no professional experience as a player, coach or manager, but Posey, Zack Minasian and the Giants' brass are betting on the man who transformed Tennessee from a bottom dweller of the SEC to one of college baseball's best programs."
"It would not be hyperbolic to describe this venture as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Vitello. But as Vitello, Posey and Minasian shared on Thursday, getting to this point was a slow burn. "They took their time, they gave me space, they gave me a bunch of information," Vitello said. "And then the people that I was able to lean on were incredible to me.""
Tony Vitello felt a change brewing after the Giants fired Bob Melvin and received a confirming text from Buster Posey. Weeks later the Giants introduced Vitello as the franchise's 40th manager. Vitello has no professional playing, coaching or managerial experience, yet the Giants' leadership, including Posey and general manager Zack Minasian, backed him because of his transformation of Tennessee baseball. Tennessee rose from SEC cellar status to a top collegiate program that produced numerous draft picks. The hiring process unfolded deliberately, with the organization giving Vitello space and information while he leaned on trusted people.
Read at The Mercury News
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