For the primary time of their 124-season historical past, the New York Yankees have thrown back-to-back shutouts to start out a season. The Yankees blanked the San Francisco Giants behind Max Fried on Wednesday (7-0) and Cam Schlittler on Friday (3-0) to start the season 2-0. The Giants have been one-hit Friday and are the primary group ever with no runs and 5 or fewer hits of their first two video games of a season.
Needless to say, this isn’t the beginning new Giants supervisor Tony Vitello envisioned to start his MLB profession. The former University of Tennessee head coach remains to be wanting for his first big-league run, nevermind his first big-league win. He took the blame for the back-to-back shutout losses after Friday’s recreation and talked about giving his group a “fire and brimstone” speech earlier this week.
“I’d kind of put it on me a little bit,” Vitello instructed reporters Friday (by way of The Athletic). “I got all fire and brimstone a few days ago, and I think some good words were shared, but I also think as of right now it’s a little emotional in there, and there are a lot of try-hards. Maybe it stems from that conversation prior to the season or maybe it stems from all the Opening Day fanfare, being the home team, but regardless, everybody wants it to change.”
Vitello added: “But there’s also a pressing need in there for some feel-good and also to want to perform for the fans. I saw it on our guys’ faces and also in their hands when they’re squeezing the bat. So to be honest with you, I’d blame myself. Maybe it’s time to do what I can to maybe ease any tension in there so guys can be free and go out there and play, because everybody on the field or in the stands know those guys can play that were in that lineup.”
There is a time and a spot for impassioned “fire and brimstone” speeches, although possibly earlier than Opening Day is not it. Vitello just isn’t teaching school youngsters anymore. MLB gamers are grown males for essentially the most half, and they’ve all demonstrated their dedication and inside motivation by merely reaching the large leagues. Yell at these guys, even in a constructive means, and it will not hit fairly the identical means.
At the tip of the day, the Giants bumped into two superb beginning pitchers in Fried and Schlittler. It’s two video games. Two video games out of a 162-game season, not two video games out of a 56-game school season. Vitello hinted at potential lineup adjustments for Saturday evening’s sequence finale, and whereas tweaking the batting order is ok, wholesale lineup adjustments after two video games could be an overreaction.
Vitello, 47, is the primary individual ever to leap straight from school to an MLB managerial job with none skilled enjoying or teaching expertise. After a number of stops as an assistant coach, he joined Tennessee in 2018 and guided the Volunteers to one of many biggest seasons ever in 2022 (57-9 with a plus-421 run differential). Tennessee received this system’s first National Championship in 2024.
The Giants have received 81, 79, 80, and 81 video games within the final 4 years. The varied projection programs have them within the 81-81 vary once more in 2026. The 0-2 begin is San Francisco’s first since 2020.
