Tony Vitello to SF Giants (Merged )

[lilesrt]

Does Elander have what it takes to keep it going?

That’s a question Danny White will have to answer. Tennessee baseball is in the same situation UL Ragin Cajun football program was in when Napier left.. the AD chose to go with an assistant to sustain the culture and it hasn’t panned out and that initial program luster has worn off. The same could be said in this scenario if Elander doesn’t have it. This is the time when Tenn baseball needs to swing big, IMO.

 

[mackievol]

It also means that nobody with a pulse with a proven MLB experience wanted this job.

 

[Volstylexx]

You honestly believe money was diverted to women’s basketball on the word of somebody like Basilio. He has been grasping at anything to criticize Danny white for a while.

Women’s basketball loaded up with a top 3 recruiting class this year and currently top 2 in next years class. They definitely got money from somewhere.

 

[UTSimSinAZ]

“You’re either a Vol or you’re not “
- Tony V


View attachment 782518

That statement was the first thing I thought of as well…

 

[orange_glory]

I agree with Basilio on one thing.

He will be back in the league, and it wont be here, if he leaves.

Never say never. If Bobby P can coach at Arkansas again after that whole debacle. You just never know

 

[tn4elvis]

That statement was the first thing I thought of as well…

I think the context of that statement was talking about people complaining or bad mouthing our players. If I remember correctly

 

[Zues1]

Once you're in the big leagues as a coach you're probably not coming back to the college game, even if you fail at your first stop

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Once you're in the big leagues as a coach you're probably not coming back to the college game, even if you fail at your first stop

Well a college manager has never been hired for a to job, so the whole thing is unprecedented. If he fails, would not shock me to see him in the SEC again in 3-5 years.

 

[Volstylexx]

That’s a question Danny White will have to answer. Tennessee baseball is in the same situation UL Ragin Cajun football program was in when Napier left.. the AD chose to go with an assistant to sustain the culture and it hasn’t panned out and that initial program luster has worn off. The same could be said in this scenario if Elander doesn’t have it. This is the time when Tenn baseball needs to swing big, IMO.

That’s the catch22, right. Look at the Aggies last year after they promoted the well loved Assistant coach. For every example of it working out, there’s probably 5 or 6 examples where it didn’t work. I can totally see Danny White hiring Elander to save some money. I was certain he’d hire a big fish for women’s basketball and he didn’t. I think baseball is several rungs down on his list of important sports at TN.

 

[Ritzwatch]

It also means that nobody with a pulse with a proven MLB experience wanted this job.

No.

It means Drew Gilbert went all “Crazy Drew” and theeatened to whip Buster Posey’s a$$ if he didn’t make this happen.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Is this official?

Has that ever stopped VolNation?

 

[lilesrt]

That’s the catch22, right. Look at the Aggies last year after they promoted the well loved Assistant coach. For every example of it working out, there’s probably 5 or 6 examples where it didn’t work. I can totally see Danny White hiring Erlander to save some money. I was certain he’d hire a big fish for women’s basketball and he didn’t. I think baseball is several rungs down on his list of important sports at TN.

Good points.

 

[Go47]

That’s a question Danny White will have to answer. Tennessee baseball is in the same situation UL Ragin Cajun football program was in when Napier left.. the AD chose to go with an assistant to sustain the culture and it hasn’t panned out and that initial program luster has worn off. The same could be said in this scenario if Elander doesn’t have it. This is the time when Tenn baseball needs to swing big, IMO.

If not Elander . . . Who do you think is on the “likely” list?

 

[patrick]

If Tony V leaves for the MLB, he will be fired within 36 months. There are far too many reasons why MLB franchises do not hire college coaches.

I love Tony V and he is a generational college baseball coach but his stuff won’t work in the MLB.

 

[columbia vol]

You honestly believe money was diverted to women’s basketball on the word of somebody like Basilio. He has been grasping at anything to criticize Danny white for a while.

Ba-silly-o is a clown, I guess Lovie is still circling Knoxville

 

[taylorvol]

I will never forgive Danny White if he played a role in Tony leaving. NEVER

Same. I’m not saying it’s the sole reason but their relationship is certainly strained. The pull of the Giants and being the first college coach to get the gig is probably too much for normal folks to turn down. CTV isn’t normal. With that said, CTV and Danny White couldn’t be more different. White is a stiff, introverted administrator. CTV is an extroverted free spirit who wants to feel fully supported by his AD, and naturally given the tools to go to Omaha. I don’t think he gets that 100% from Danny White. Plus, I bet TN isn’t in the top 5 of NIL money in baseball in the SEC. That fact alone has to tick off CTV. Maybe Randy Boyd will step in and save the day!

 

[EezyE]

Can Gruden coach baseball?

 

[rocky top buzz]

Are we sure Jay Johnson is happy in Baton Rouge? I'd make sure if I was DW.

 

[Jimmy Football]

Can Gruden coach baseball?

Heard his wife was a softball pitcher at UT. Also owns some baseball fields in East Tennessee. TIFWIW.

 

[volforlife15]

That’s the catch22, right. Look at the Aggies last year after they promoted the well loved Assistant coach. For every example of it working out, there’s probably 5 or 6 examples where it didn’t work. I can totally see Danny White hiring Elander to save some money. I was certain he’d hire a big fish for women’s basketball and he didn’t. I think baseball is several rungs down on his list of important sports at TN.

I think it’s a bit disrespectful to compare elander and early. Elander has been with Tony since the beginning. Coaches 3rd and calls pitches when FA is not available. His involvement in the program and success are much more apparent than Early’s ever were. Not to mention the Early hire was a panic hire to save the current team

 

[Volnbeers]

At least he’s leaving for the a big league job and not a lateral move to another school. Hate it, but can’t blame him. Kind of unprecedented.

 

[taylorvol]

This just sucks that there is a “delay” in the decision. Just rip the band aid off with the first breaking news and don’t make us suffer twice while he mulls it over and then announce again he’s taking the job.

I don’t think he’s 100% convinced on taking the job. I may be naive and it’s just his agent working out the finer points.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

If he leaves, he is a coach who brought us a title; for that I will be grateful.

Legends are lifers. Summitt, Neyland, Fulmer.

Legends get statues and stadiums named after them.

Tony will be a nice memory who had a chance to be a legend if he’d stayed.

He is a legend here regardless. You can’t fault a guy for leaving when he is getting an unprecedented offer that has never happened in the history of the sport.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I stated in an earlier post if this happens the only way to salvage the 2026 season is promote Erlander and hopefully half the staff stays with him , we have a ton of MLB talent that could go anywhere they wanted too , a 30 day transfer portal with no one from this existing staff would be brutal in my opinion

 

[Bigorangefaninga]

How you gonna wish the man the best then predict his failure.

Very easily! One I hope he does well, but factually he most likely fails! 1st because it’s never been done before and there’s a reason for that, 2nd because his coaching style isn’t anywhere close to ANY MLB manager and there’s a reason for that, 3rd his on field choices at UT sometimes were questioned, his bread and butter is recruiting and you don’t do that in MLB as a manager. Maybe as a GM I’d say he would prob work out, but there’s a 25% or less chance he works out in MLB. Again I wish him luck because he’s going to need it!