Giants Manager Tony Vitello Receives Advice from Dusty Baker After Brutal Start

Former Giants manager Dusty Baker offers words of wisdom to new skipper Tony Vitello as the team struggles out of the gate.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:51pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Giants' colors, capturing the chaotic energy of a baseball game in a deconstructed, multi-perspective style.A cubist interpretation of the Giants' early-season struggles, with the team's colors fractured into a geometric mosaic.San Diego Today

The San Francisco Giants have stumbled out of the gate in the 2026 MLB season, going just 5-8 in their first 13 games. Former Giants manager Dusty Baker, who is now a special advisor to the team, offered some advice to current manager Tony Vitello on how to handle the rough start. Baker emphasized that Vitello should not dwell on the past and instead focus on getting the team back to .500 before taking a deeper breath and moving forward.

Why it matters

The Giants' poor start has raised concerns among fans and the media, but Baker's advice highlights the importance of maintaining a level head and focusing on incremental progress rather than getting bogged down by early-season struggles. As a respected veteran manager, Baker's perspective could prove invaluable in helping the first-time skipper Vitello navigate this challenging period.

The details

The Giants' season began with a sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, during which the team managed just one run. After winning two of three against the San Diego Padres, the Giants were swept again by the New York Mets. They have since won two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies. Baker attributed the poor start to the tough early-season schedule, which has seen the Giants face playoff teams from the previous season in each of their first four series.

  • The Giants started the 2026 season with a 5-8 record in their first 13 games.
  • The Giants were swept by the New York Yankees to open the season.
  • The Giants won two of three games against the San Diego Padres.
  • The Giants were swept by the New York Mets.
  • The Giants won two of three games against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The players

Dusty Baker

A former manager of the San Francisco Giants who is now a special advisor to the team.

Tony Vitello

The current manager of the San Francisco Giants, who is in his first season with the team.

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What they’re saying

“The big thing now for him is to not look at the past. You can't change what happened. Just get back to .500, and then you can take a deep breath and go from there.”

— Dusty Baker, Special Advisor, San Francisco Giants

What’s next

The Giants will look to turn things around on a nine-game road trip that includes games against the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and Washington Nationals. When they return home, they will face their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The takeaway

Dusty Baker's advice to new Giants manager Tony Vitello emphasizes the importance of maintaining a forward-looking mindset and not getting bogged down by early-season struggles. This perspective could prove invaluable as Vitello navigates his first season at the helm of the Giants, who are facing a challenging schedule and a difficult start to the year.