Giants Manager Tony Vitello Defends Bench Usage After Yankees Sweep

Vitello faces questions about his lineup decisions in his first series as Giants manager.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a baseball game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of color, with players and field reduced to abstract shapes.A cubist interpretation of the Giants' struggles against the Yankees, with the game action fragmented into a geometric abstraction.San Diego Today

In his first series as manager of the San Francisco Giants, Tony Vitello is having to defend his lineup decisions and pitching changes after the team was swept by the New York Yankees. Vitello explained his reasoning for pinch-hitting for outfielder Jung Hoo Lee against a tough left-handed pitcher, as well as his decision to pitch to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in a key situation.

Why it matters

Vitello's moves as a first-time MLB manager are being heavily scrutinized after the Giants' poor offensive performance and lopsided losses against the Yankees. His ability to make effective in-game adjustments and manage his roster will be crucial as the Giants look to bounce back and compete in the NL West.

The details

In the three-game series, the Giants scored just one run total, leading to questions about Vitello's lineup decisions. He defended pulling outfielder Jung Hoo Lee for a pinch-hitter against a tough left-handed pitcher, saying the team's analytics showed other batters had better success against that pitcher. Vitello was also criticized for not intentionally walking Yankees star Aaron Judge in a key situation, but said they considered it and chose to pitch to him.

  • The Giants were swept by the Yankees in a three-game series from March 27-29, 2026.
  • The Giants have an off day on Sunday, March 30, before heading to San Diego to face the Padres.

The players

Tony Vitello

The first-year manager of the San Francisco Giants, who previously made the rare jump from college to an MLB manager role.

Jung Hoo Lee

A Giants outfielder who Vitello pinch-hit for against a tough left-handed pitcher.

Aaron Judge

The star Yankees slugger who hit a home run off a Giants pitcher that Vitello was criticized for not intentionally walking.

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What they’re saying

“'No, not at all. (Lee) is our guy. I think those guys had gotten a previous look at Hill. Obviously, he's really tough, but (Luis) Arráez was able to get to him and some guys in spring training, with a good approach, were able to have success against him.'”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

“'If we go back in time, now that we know the result, we would (walk Judge). That was a consideration. We didn't do it, and he made us pay, which is why he's pretty good. He's more than pretty good.'”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

The Giants have an off day on Sunday, March 30, before heading to San Diego to face the Padres in their next series.

The takeaway

Vitello's decisions as a first-time MLB manager are being heavily scrutinized after the Giants' poor start, but he is standing by his lineup and pitching choices. His ability to make effective in-game adjustments and manage his roster will be crucial as the Giants look to bounce back and compete in the NL West.