Tony Vitello to SF Giants (Merged )

[VolPack22]

Born in the great state of TN, just raised a winner.

**about as long as the "Pack too"

I’m not a Packers fan

 

[YankeeVol]

I’m not a Packers fan

Then you're name is even dumber than I already thought

I get it, you're an agitator. Makes sense.

 

[taylorvol]

Hard to argue against this. The national championship may have inadvertently made the decision to leave for the Giants, easier. If that makes sense.

He accomplished something Van Horn and Mike Martin never accomplished in otherwise storybook coaching careers.

Would also make it inviting to replace Van Horn at Ark after a few years in MLB if things don’t work out. Obviously, this is if Van Horn doesn't win a NC at Arkansas in the meantime. Huge speculation but isn’t that part of message boards?

 

[Volstylexx]

Potential here to change the college game as well. Imagine many more top SEC coaches will get picked off if Tony has any measure of success in the MLB.

Except NO COACH HAS EVER went from MCB to the MLB.....

 

[82_VOL_83]

Even if he stays, it will be several seasons before he is trusted again...if ever.

 

[YankeeVol]

Potential here to change the college game as well. Imagine many more top SEC coaches will get picked off if Tony has any measure of success in the MLB.

He won't

 

[BowlBrother85]

Except NO COACH HAS EVER went from MCB to the MLB.....

Really? Didn't know that. Interesting.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Man if overrated is slashing a career .302/.372/.460 with a MVP, ROY, 3 World Series rings, all while playing Gold Glove defense as a catcher, I would hate to see what an average player looks like in your book.

He was not a great defensive catcher, he was good. I watched him every night.

 

[Volstylexx]

Would also make it inviting to replace Van Horn at Ark after a few years in MLB if things don’t work out. Obviously, this is if Van Horn doesn't win a NC at Arkansas in the meantime. Huge speculation but isn’t that part of message boards?

This is the most sickening aspect of the whole situation. Lol. If he leaves, we need to hope he has so much success that he never returns to the college ranks. I can’t take that.

 

[YankeeVol]

Really? Didn't know that. Interesting.

Thanks buddy.......

Also LSU >>>>>>> TN in baseball LOL

 

[orange_glory]

Even if he stays, it will be several seasons before he is trusted again...if ever.

This right here. Recruits will think twice.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Even if he stays, it will be several seasons before he is trusted again...if ever.

Meh ..... If he stays, this will be forgotten.

 

[VolPack22]

Lifelong Cardinals fan that lived in the Bay Area for a long time.

It was as infuriating as a Cards fan. They actually thought Buster was a better defensive catcher than Yadi.

Yadi was better defensively. Buster was better offensively. It’s really splitting hairs. If you are someone that cares about WAR, Buster has him beat there. I would take either of them on my team but would probably choose Buster if I were drafting a team due to the higher offensive upside while also playing high caliber defensive.

 

[driscokid]

Unfortunately I never felt strategy and game management were his strong areas. MLB is a whole different game that he has zero experience in. Set up for a fail in my opinion but wish him the best

 

[82_VOL_83]

He was not a great defensive catcher, he was good. I watched him every night.

Let's not bring actually being there into this.

 

[Volstylexx]

This right here. Recruits will think twice.

Why would they? Your coach just turned down a MLB job to stay. Why would they think twice ? That’s not logical.

 

[taylorvol]

I’m telling you right now that if he wins a World Series he will be looked at as one of the best BASEBALL coaches, not just one of the best college baseball coaches. If I were in Tony’s shoes I would want a national championship and a World Series. Everyone upset with this are way too biased because it’s Tennessee. If this were LSU or Arkansas it would be just another story. I get it, y’all are emotional because it is fresh but none of us have the right to tell or to even think what Tony should do with his career. He accomplished what he set out to do for Tennessee. Either thank him for his services and be grateful he blessed us with his presence or wallow in misery. That’s on y’all.

I was with you until the wallow in misery comment. Who in the heck wouldn’t be sad to see him leave TN? I can wish him well and completely understand his reasons for leaving, AND be sad that he’s leaving. Zero wrong with that…I do have an issue with fans lashing out at CTV but those are the vocal minority.

 

[rocketskates]

Meh ..... If he stays, this will be forgotten.

Right. That could be said for any successful college coach. Theres always the potential they may take a bigger job. It’s the double edged sword of success. People are always trying to snipe your coaches or their staff.

 

[cncchris33]

I’m sorry you believe that lol. He never has to step foot on a recruiting visit ever again. He never has to convince a kid to come play college instead of entering the draft. Could you imagine having the most laborious and tedious part of your job taken away, but you still get to do the other things you enjoy and still get paid the same, if not more? Sign me up

What you call the "most laborious and tedious part of his job" is also potentially the most rewarding and controllable part of what makes his job at Tennessee better than any professional job.

As a professional manager, roster management and construction is largely out of his hands. Development is largely out of his hands. I agree that the stress and frustration that accompanies those tasks fall to the wayside, but it just feels like trading one set of troubles for another. I also don't get the sense that Vitello hates recruiting. In fact, I think he enjoys it.

At the end of the day, he can write his own story at Tennessee and he's the star of the show. At the MLB level, at best, he gets to pick the font and ink color, but the story is largely written by the GM, the club president, and the owner. Managers are extremely replaceable and oftentimes the scapegoat for the decisions they have little to no control over. I guess if he decides to give it a try, he will maybe find that out the hard way.

 

[rocketskates]

Why would they? Your coach just turned down a MLB job to stay. Why would they think twice ? That’s not logical.

I think he’s gone but if he does end up staying the fact that he was offered by a MLB team is great for the program. It just solidifies how good of a coach that he is.

 

[VolBallGuy]

October 18 was already a dark day for Tennessee sports historically, but this has the opportunity to be the worst day for UT in probably 60 years

We should celebrate our association with a great coach.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Why would they? Your coach just turned down a MLB job to stay. Why would they think twice ? That’s not logical.

Every year, every time he was even jokingly mentioned, it would surface again. Recruiters won't let it go. If you are going to go, go. If you are going to stay, make your negotiations for your raise and stay.

 

[CAVPUT]

He won't

Wouldn't bet against him, but his super power is recruiting. That's negated to a degree in MLB. He still has his evaluation skills to rely on tho.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Yadi was better defensively. Buster was better offensively. It’s really splitting hairs. If you are someone that cares about WAR, Buster has him beat there. I would take either of them on my team but would probably choose Buster if I were drafting a team due to the higher offensive upside while also playing high caliber defensive.

I get where you are coming from.

I go with Yadi for his calling the game. Posey had absurdly good pitchers that did not need his input.

 

[taylorvol]

I warned people about their online crap last year when TN lost a few games and people started posting “Anderson needs to go,” “Tony has lost it,etc.”. Our fanbase, for all its glory, is in sufferable at times.

Agreed but all fan bases have their NegaVols. I choose to believe they are the vocal minority. Make no mistake, CTV heard some of the absurd and unfair criticism and didn’t appreciate it.