ESPN : Tenn. Vitello accepts Giants manager job

[ramfandan]

You’re acting as if Tony Vitello is the only coach who has ever built a powerhouse college baseball program.

Nope ! Several have Van Horn at Arkansas , Jay Johnson at LSU and several more.

There have been MUCH bigger historical names than those. And there will be more in the future. Which begs the sincere question: why do you obviously seem to think this story is such a big deal?

The story is a big deal and received national recognition due to the fact that Vitello is the 1st manager EVER to be hired by a MLB organization that never previously managed nor coached in either the majors or minor league affiliates. So it received quite a bit of publicity . If Vitello has some success I am sure there will be others in the future to get the same opportunity but up until now this has never happened before. Usually in sports when something is groundbreaking (the first ever ) it is considered a 'big deal ' (your words ). His hiring made history .

OK, I get that. But Vitello is hardly the first MLB manager to be hired with no prior MLB managing experience. I mean, Kurt Suzuki was hired just yesterday, and he had NO managerial experience at ANY level. Albert Pujols has no prior MLB or professional managing experience, and he is being interviewed for jobs. Mike Matheny had no prior MLB, minor league, or college managerial experience before being hired. Etc., etc.

So while it's certainly true that Vitello is the first college coach to go directly to managing an MLB team without prior MLB managing experience, is that really a materially bigger logical/career leap than those of the parade of other first-time hires over the years? I mean, I agree with you that it's newsworthy, and I can understand a thread about it, but your almost breathless play-by-play coverage makes it seem like it's some sort of unthinkable moonshot. It just seems a little out of proportion with the actual importance of the story on the merits. I doubt anyone will be talking about this a couple days from now, and I suspect few people outside of SF and TN even care. Of course, like everyone else on here, you are perfectly at liberty to post about whatever you want, I'm just trying to understand the overwrought blow-by-blow, tick-tock coverage of it like it's tantamount to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

It isn't just the fact that Vitello has no previous MLB managing experience. You mentioned Suzuki and Pujols (under consideratin ) , Matheney etc.
All of those guys PLAYED major league baseball coming thru minor leagues to get to that level .
Tony Vitello NEVER played as a major leaguer like all of those . In fact, Vitello NEVER played in any minor league system. So unlike all of previous guys who managed in the MLB, Vitello has ZILCH experience with professional baseball in any capacity playing or coaching it .

The first to ever do so makes it quite the unique story I think most would agree. In watching MLB TV shows , they must have thought that more people than Tenn. and SF cared as it was their 2nd lead story on their national shows (top 1st story was previewing WS Blue Jays vs. Dodgers ) Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the story.

Here is what Max Scherzer had to say about the Vitello hiring :

“It’s the competitiveness. It’s the fire. It’s the intensity,” Scherzer told Rosenthal. “And it’s the communication skills. He makes it so relatable. He’s such a players’ guy. He makes you want to run through a brick wall for him. He was perfect for me when I was in college. He helped even to foster my mentality and add to it, really helped bring it out of me. Mizzou was my ground zero where I really took off and his fingerprints are all over that. So I absolutely believe in him. He’s to this day one of my closest friends and I absolutely believe he’s gonna get it done at the big league level."

PS Also the fact that Vitello is from St. Louis and that he previously was asst coach at Mizzou (see Scherzer above ) might have added interest for St. Louisans on this forum . From a few of the comments , guess not.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Train wreck.

[Jatalk]

You’re acting as if Tony Vitello is the only coach who has ever built a powerhouse college baseball program.

Nope ! Several have Van Horn at Arkansas , Jay Johnson at LSU and several more.

There have been MUCH bigger historical names than those. And there will be more in the future. Which begs the sincere question: why do you obviously seem to think this story is such a big deal?

The story is a big deal and received national recognition due to the fact that Vitello is the 1st manager EVER to be hired by a MLB organization that never previously managed nor coached in either the majors or minor league affiliates. So it received quite a bit of publicity . If Vitello has some success I am sure there will be others in the future to get the same opportunity but up until now this has never happened before. Usually in sports when something is groundbreaking (the first ever ) it is considered a 'big deal ' (your words ). His hiring made history .

OK, I get that. But Vitello is hardly the first MLB manager to be hired with no prior MLB managing experience. I mean, Kurt Suzuki was hired just yesterday, and he had NO managerial experience at ANY level. Albert Pujols has no prior MLB or professional managing experience, and he is being interviewed for jobs. Mike Matheny had no prior MLB, minor league, or college managerial experience before being hired. Etc., etc.

So while it's certainly true that Vitello is the first college coach to go directly to managing an MLB team without prior MLB managing experience, is that really a materially bigger logical/career leap than those of the parade of other first-time hires over the years? I mean, I agree with you that it's newsworthy, and I can understand a thread about it, but your almost breathless play-by-play coverage makes it seem like it's some sort of unthinkable moonshot. It just seems a little out of proportion with the actual importance of the story on the merits. I doubt anyone will be talking about this a couple days from now, and I suspect few people outside of SF and TN even care. Of course, like everyone else on here, you are perfectly at liberty to post about whatever you want, I'm just trying to understand the overwrought blow-by-blow, tick-tock coverage of it like it's tantamount to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

It isn't just the fact that Vitello has no previous MLB managing experience. You mentioned Suzuki and Pujols (under consideratin ) , Matheney etc.
All of those guys PLAYED major league baseball coming thru minor leagues to get to that level .
Tony Vitello NEVER played as a major leaguer like all of those . In fact, Vitello NEVER played in any minor league system. So unlike all of previous guys who managed in the MLB, Vitello has ZILCH experience with professional baseball in any capacity playing or coaching it .

The first to ever do so makes it quite the unique story I think most would agree. In watching MLB TV shows , they must have thought that more people than Tenn. and SF cared as it was their 2nd lead story on their national shows (top 1st story was previewing WS Blue Jays vs. Dodgers ) Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the story.

Here is what Max Scherzer had to say about the Vitello hiring :

“It’s the competitiveness. It’s the fire. It’s the intensity,” Scherzer told Rosenthal. “And it’s the communication skills. He makes it so relatable. He’s such a players’ guy. He makes you want to run through a brick wall for him. He was perfect for me when I was in college. He helped even to foster my mentality and add to it, really helped bring it out of me. Mizzou was my ground zero where I really took off and his fingerprints are all over that. So I absolutely believe in him. He’s to this day one of my closest friends and I absolutely believe he’s gonna get it done at the big league level."

PS Also the fact that Vitello is from St. Louis and that he previously was asst coach at Mizzou (see Scherzer above ) might have added interest for St. Louisans on this forum . From a few of the comments , guess not.

Do you support his and his teams antics on the field? Do you support the comments he has made about other coaches? He knows baseball, he can coach, but he is bad for baseball. I can’t wait until he runs his mouth in an MLB game and someone beats his sorry donkey.

[russellhammond]

You’re acting as if Tony Vitello is the only coach who has ever built a powerhouse college baseball program.

Nope ! Several have Van Horn at Arkansas , Jay Johnson at LSU and several more.

There have been MUCH bigger historical names than those. And there will be more in the future. Which begs the sincere question: why do you obviously seem to think this story is such a big deal?

The story is a big deal and received national recognition due to the fact that Vitello is the 1st manager EVER to be hired by a MLB organization that never previously managed nor coached in either the majors or minor league affiliates. So it received quite a bit of publicity . If Vitello has some success I am sure there will be others in the future to get the same opportunity but up until now this has never happened before. Usually in sports when something is groundbreaking (the first ever ) it is considered a 'big deal ' (your words ). His hiring made history .

OK, I get that. But Vitello is hardly the first MLB manager to be hired with no prior MLB managing experience. I mean, Kurt Suzuki was hired just yesterday, and he had NO managerial experience at ANY level. Albert Pujols has no prior MLB or professional managing experience, and he is being interviewed for jobs. Mike Matheny had no prior MLB, minor league, or college managerial experience before being hired. Etc., etc.

So while it's certainly true that Vitello is the first college coach to go directly to managing an MLB team without prior MLB managing experience, is that really a materially bigger logical/career leap than those of the parade of other first-time hires over the years? I mean, I agree with you that it's newsworthy, and I can understand a thread about it, but your almost breathless play-by-play coverage makes it seem like it's some sort of unthinkable moonshot. It just seems a little out of proportion with the actual importance of the story on the merits. I doubt anyone will be talking about this a couple days from now, and I suspect few people outside of SF and TN even care. Of course, like everyone else on here, you are perfectly at liberty to post about whatever you want, I'm just trying to understand the overwrought blow-by-blow, tick-tock coverage of it like it's tantamount to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

It isn't just the fact that Vitello has no previous MLB managing experience. You mentioned Suzuki and Pujols (under consideratin ) , Matheney etc.
All of those guys PLAYED major league baseball coming thru minor leagues to get to that level .
Tony Vitello NEVER played as a major leaguer like all of those . In fact, Vitello NEVER played in any minor league system. So unlike all of previous guys who managed in the MLB, Vitello has ZILCH experience with professional baseball in any capacity playing or coaching it .

The first to ever do so makes it quite the unique story I think most would agree. In watching MLB TV shows , they must have thought that more people than Tenn. and SF cared as it was their 2nd lead story on their national shows (top 1st story was previewing WS Blue Jays vs. Dodgers ) Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the story.

Here is what Max Scherzer had to say about the Vitello hiring :

“It’s the competitiveness. It’s the fire. It’s the intensity,” Scherzer told Rosenthal. “And it’s the communication skills. He makes it so relatable. He’s such a players’ guy. He makes you want to run through a brick wall for him. He was perfect for me when I was in college. He helped even to foster my mentality and add to it, really helped bring it out of me. Mizzou was my ground zero where I really took off and his fingerprints are all over that. So I absolutely believe in him. He’s to this day one of my closest friends and I absolutely believe he’s gonna get it done at the big league level."

PS Also the fact that Vitello is from St. Louis and that he previously was asst coach at Mizzou (see Scherzer above ) might have added interest for St. Louisans on this forum . From a few of the comments , guess not.

Do you support his and his teams antics on the field? Do you support the comments he has made about other coaches? He knows baseball, he can coach, but he is bad for baseball. I can’t wait until he runs his mouth in an MLB game and someone beats his sorry donkey.

Yeah, there's never been a successful MLB manager who was outspoken and rubbed people the wrong way. Not sure if I can think of a single one.....

[Jatalk]

You’re acting as if Tony Vitello is the only coach who has ever built a powerhouse college baseball program.

Nope ! Several have Van Horn at Arkansas , Jay Johnson at LSU and several more.

There have been MUCH bigger historical names than those. And there will be more in the future. Which begs the sincere question: why do you obviously seem to think this story is such a big deal?

The story is a big deal and received national recognition due to the fact that Vitello is the 1st manager EVER to be hired by a MLB organization that never previously managed nor coached in either the majors or minor league affiliates. So it received quite a bit of publicity . If Vitello has some success I am sure there will be others in the future to get the same opportunity but up until now this has never happened before. Usually in sports when something is groundbreaking (the first ever ) it is considered a 'big deal ' (your words ). His hiring made history .

OK, I get that. But Vitello is hardly the first MLB manager to be hired with no prior MLB managing experience. I mean, Kurt Suzuki was hired just yesterday, and he had NO managerial experience at ANY level. Albert Pujols has no prior MLB or professional managing experience, and he is being interviewed for jobs. Mike Matheny had no prior MLB, minor league, or college managerial experience before being hired. Etc., etc.

So while it's certainly true that Vitello is the first college coach to go directly to managing an MLB team without prior MLB managing experience, is that really a materially bigger logical/career leap than those of the parade of other first-time hires over the years? I mean, I agree with you that it's newsworthy, and I can understand a thread about it, but your almost breathless play-by-play coverage makes it seem like it's some sort of unthinkable moonshot. It just seems a little out of proportion with the actual importance of the story on the merits. I doubt anyone will be talking about this a couple days from now, and I suspect few people outside of SF and TN even care. Of course, like everyone else on here, you are perfectly at liberty to post about whatever you want, I'm just trying to understand the overwrought blow-by-blow, tick-tock coverage of it like it's tantamount to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

It isn't just the fact that Vitello has no previous MLB managing experience. You mentioned Suzuki and Pujols (under consideratin ) , Matheney etc.
All of those guys PLAYED major league baseball coming thru minor leagues to get to that level .
Tony Vitello NEVER played as a major leaguer like all of those . In fact, Vitello NEVER played in any minor league system. So unlike all of previous guys who managed in the MLB, Vitello has ZILCH experience with professional baseball in any capacity playing or coaching it .

The first to ever do so makes it quite the unique story I think most would agree. In watching MLB TV shows , they must have thought that more people than Tenn. and SF cared as it was their 2nd lead story on their national shows (top 1st story was previewing WS Blue Jays vs. Dodgers ) Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the story.

Here is what Max Scherzer had to say about the Vitello hiring :

“It’s the competitiveness. It’s the fire. It’s the intensity,” Scherzer told Rosenthal. “And it’s the communication skills. He makes it so relatable. He’s such a players’ guy. He makes you want to run through a brick wall for him. He was perfect for me when I was in college. He helped even to foster my mentality and add to it, really helped bring it out of me. Mizzou was my ground zero where I really took off and his fingerprints are all over that. So I absolutely believe in him. He’s to this day one of my closest friends and I absolutely believe he’s gonna get it done at the big league level."

PS Also the fact that Vitello is from St. Louis and that he previously was asst coach at Mizzou (see Scherzer above ) might have added interest for St. Louisans on this forum . From a few of the comments , guess not.

Do you support his and his teams antics on the field? Do you support the comments he has made about other coaches? He knows baseball, he can coach, but he is bad for baseball. I can’t wait until he runs his mouth in an MLB game and someone beats his sorry donkey.

Yeah, there's never been a successful MLB manager who was outspoken and rubbed people the wrong way. Not sure if I can think of a single one.....

There’s a difference between rubbing people the wrong way and congratulating your players running around the bases flipping people off. Templeton did that to a fan and Whitey jerked him off the field. You have to stoop very low to support this jerk.

[ramfandan]

Last night on MLB this is what Yonder Alonso and Sean Casey had to say about the Vitello hiring by Giants

https://www.facebook.com/MLBNetwork/vid ... 417545628/