Giants GM Zack Minasian shows full support of Tony Vitello's most questionable decision yet
Giants GM Zack Minasian shows full support of Tony Vitello's most questionable decision yet originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The San Francisco Giants are led by first-year manager Tony Vitello, who has already drawn significant criticism during his first two weeks on the job. One of the latest talking points has been his handling of rookie catcher Daniel Susac and the limited opportunities he has received during his strong start.
“It's early. The offensive trajectory of both players can change at a moment's notice. But that doesn't mean the Giants should ignore what they likely already know: Bailey, despite his incredible impact defensively, and the handful of clutch moments at the plate, is a below-average major-league hitter with a career .227/.284/.334 slash line. Susac -- once again, very early on -- appears to have a higher ceiling offensively. Yes, it's a small sample size, but even the eye test will tell you that his short, compact swing and consistent opposite-field approach will play at the major-league level,” NBC Sports’ Taylor Wirth wrote.
After Susac delivered a three-hit performance, Vitello started veteran Patrick Bailey in the following game.
“Nola, better against righties... Bailey's a gold glove catcher, and he's our guy. Susac is becoming our guy too... Bailey is very sincerely supporting Susac everytime he's out there, and Susac is doing the same,” Vitello told the media.
This decision left many puzzled, given Susac’s strong start. For Vitello, however, the focus is on managing playing time and finding at-bats for Susac. Giants GM Zack Minasian has also taken note of Susac’s early production and appears to support the manager’s approach.
“The way Susac has performed, he's warranted more playing time and we'll see how that goes. It's a fluid situation ... It's great to have both options,” Minasian said.
Vitello is new to the professional baseball world, and it will take time for him to fully adjust. However, he has already faced scrutiny for nearly every decision he has made.
For Vitello, it is likely reassuring to know his GM is backing him while he navigates the lineup. Susac will continue to receive opportunities—there is no question about that—but eventually, Vitello will have to fully trust his instincts when making lineup decisions.
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