The San Francisco Giants are turning a new page with Tony Vitello stepping in as the manager. As he embarks on his first season with the club, Vitello is already shedding light on why the Giants might have underperformed last year.
The 2025 season was a rollercoaster for the Giants, and team chemistry seemed to take a hit as the year wore on. Players like Logan Webb voiced their frustrations, believing the team had too much talent to end with just 81 wins and miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. It’s clear that Webb wasn’t alone in this sentiment, as the roster appeared stronger than the results showed.
In response, the Giants made some changes, parting ways with manager Bob Melvin and much of his coaching staff. Despite these adjustments, the core group of players remains largely unchanged, and the offseason didn’t bring many new faces to the lineup.
During a recent appearance on the Murph and Markus show on KNBR, Vitello shared his insights on what he believes went wrong last season. He emphasized the importance of team unity from the get-go, noting, "I think the team can win by coming together as a team at the beginning of the season. As the season goes on, getting closer, I don’t know if that was exactly the case, especially in times of struggle, which can be a challenge."
Vitello also questioned whether the right support systems were in place as the team faced difficulties. His perspective, though new, aligns with some internal beliefs within the organization about last season’s challenges.
Team chemistry is a delicate balance, often scrutinized through the lens of wins and losses. When a team is winning, chemistry is credited as a key factor.
Conversely, during tough times, it’s often seen as a culprit. For the Giants, Vitello believes that fostering a supportive environment during the inevitable struggles of a 162-game season will be crucial to their success.