Tony Vitello breaks down final Jung Hoo Lee play in Giants' loss to Rangers
Giants manager Tony Vitello speaks to reporters after San Francisco's 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Tony Vitello breaks down final Jung Hoo Lee play in Giants' loss to Rangers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Tony, what happened with John Weather?
I know he lost one in the lights yesterday.
Did, was that a factor?
No, I don't think that was anything there.
I mean, y- you've got the winning run at, at second base, so you have to be able to throw that runner out.
So positioning is the main thing, but a- also, it plays into a little bit of mentality-wise.
Everything's about going forward.
Guy drove the ball good.
I, I thought off the bat it had a chance to leave the park.
So did what he needed to do on the break, just didn't finish the catch.
But I think it's all about having to throw that, that runner out from second base.
Tony, you had a lot of work early for Blade, but he ends up going five, giving up two runs.
What'd you just think of- Yeah, I- based on his first start?
I, I thought he settled in, and he pitched really well.
It's, it is two different mentalities.
Those guys can speak to it more intelligently than I can, but he's been a little bit of both.
Reliever, and y- the, the true bulldog comes out in him when he's got, you know, three outs to go get as opposed to a runway of maybe 100 pitches.
And, to me, it was a good mix as the game went on of he looked like he was attacking, and he had his intensity, but he's also pitching really well.
And then even towards the end there, where he's able to get out of some damage against really good, or prevent damage against some really good hitters, he was kinda truly pitching a good mix and, and good spotting them.
Bryce hadn't br- blown a save since May 13th.
He's also their all-star with a sub three ERA.
Just how impressive was that at-bat by Bryce?
I mean, the three, the three guys combined, really, to be honest with you, and they're three young guys, and it's all left on left.
I mean, they kinda had it set up the way we want- they wanted to after Buddy got out.
But I just think it speaks to the effort.
He not interested in consolation prizes or bronze medals or anything like that.
But, I think the whole, the whole game, the effort was there out of everybody.
The younger guys with their energy, but also I think the older guys have done a good job of leading, and, and they were doing the same thing.
I mean, Jung, he took a good swing off him, at the end.
So I think it was a by- byproduct of everybody's effort.
But having said that, it's pretty damn impressive to take a day off, come in late in the game in that situation, and do what he did.
What do you need to see from Tidwell as he gets more runway over the end of the season or maybe next year?
You know, it's The game just ended, so you're sour, and you're wondering what could've gone different.
And, you can pick apart a million things.
But, you know, the two runs, the, the two innings they scored in prior to the ninth were let off by walks.
And you, you don't like seeing Berger hit a double, but it's, he's a good hitter.
Smitty attacked, and, and, you know, the guy got him.
Same thing, Raver was kind of the hero to an extent last night.
We talked about it, I think, in the dugout before the game.
You gonna have to hit him or not, and tonight they did it.
But those two innings starting with a leadoff walk was a little bit painful.
Again, you don't wanna lower your standards and say consolation prize.
It, it happens, especially if you play a million games.
But, just attacking is, I guess, is the roundabout answer.
You mentioned that Blade being a bulldog out of the bullpen.
You guys obviously needed bullpen help in the first half.
You decided to stretch him out for situations like this.
What kind of led into that, just making this the path for him this year?
I, I think just having to cover ourselves, and part of that is, maybe not as many candidates to do it, with that group.
But having someone available to do it, and obviously Wiz stepped up.
He got a couple chances.
I know Blade, without even speaking to him about it, I'm just inferring, is chomping at the bit and saying, "When, when is it my turn?"
And he got it tonight.
And, again, if you lose, you could pick it apart or beat yourself up or anything like that.
But I, I, I think it's fair to say he took full advantage of it.
Peter, since there was a maybe higher energy level with those young guys in particular, especially in the west- I think everybody.
I mean- with the, the meeting and- Yeah, I think, I, I think, you know, regardless of what went on pre-game, yesterday's pre-game was a disaster really.
I think just once the game started, the guys are, are playing with, a love for the I hope it looks that way, but in the dugout it feels that way, love for the game.
But I think it's everybody.
I mean, Willie jumped 80 feet off the air or 8 feet off the ground, whatever it was, to make the play.
And, you know, it sucks to say after a loss, but the last two nights is what you're looking for, when we talk in the coaches' locker room back there, to come back after the game and not feel like we left anything on the table.
I think, I think we threw everything out on the table tonight and we just got beat.
Using Hauser where you did, does that indicate anything about maybe he might not go back into a long or starting role or...?
He, he wouldn't pitch tomorrow.
But no, I don't, I We'll see.
I mean, we have the off day to kinda gather things, but with him throwing tonight, he wouldn't throw tomorrow, and then the off day will give us a chance to kinda reassess where we're at.
Two pitches probably maybe helps with, knowing- Yeah.
Yeah, for sure.
It maybe opens up a window for conversation, you know, being that it was as short as it was.
But he was gonna get some work today on the mound no matter what, and it, you know, if you were just to look at his outing, it, it worked out well for him.
