San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello is urging his players to adopt a more aggressive and carefree approach as the team navigates a disappointing season.
"For too much of this season, in manager Tony Vitello’s eyes, the Giants have been playing as if they have ‘everything to lose,’" the New York Post reported. "He’d like to see more of the opposite."
With the Giants 18 games under .500 and trailing the division leader by 22 ½ games, Vitello believes the team has little to lose. This sentiment was recently reflected in the base-running of players like Bryce Eldridge and Daniel Susac, who successfully stole bases without explicit calls from the coaching staff. In July, the Giants have a perfect 12-for-12 stolen base record over 16 games, matching their monthly high for the season.
This increased aggressiveness marks a shift for a team that has historically been conservative on the basepaths. Dating back to 2022, the Giants have been the least aggressive team in MLB. Even with the recent uptick, their 39 stolen bases are only slightly more than the league-worst 33 by the Tigers.
Vitello noted that while some steals have been initiated by calls from the dugout, the recent successes by Eldridge and Susac were player-driven. Both players possess below-average sprint speeds, making their independent decisions to attempt steals notable.
Eldridge, who achieved his first career stolen base, explained that opponents often underestimate his speed. "Guys don't really pay attention to me on the bases, so that's something I can take advantage of. I've really got nothing to lose in that situation," he said.
Susac, despite a less-than-ideal slide into second base, also took initiative. "I just saw the first pitch was a little slow, and with the clock being at like five (seconds), I was like, I don't think he's gonna pick, so I'm just gonna take off and take my chance," Susac said. "Obviously it ended up working out. But I'm definitely not a burner by any means, so I pick and choose my spots."
Vitello characterized this type of play as "smart-but-carefree," a mindset he hopes to see more of. The successful steals occurred late in games while the Giants were trailing and with two outs, demonstrating players' attempts to create opportunities.
This proactive mindset was a theme in a recent hitters' meeting, where team leaders encouraged players not to hesitate in initiating actions like bunts or steals when they perceive an opportunity, rather than waiting solely for coaching staff direction.
"You're not playing like you have nothing to lose because you don't care," Vitello said. "But I think a little bit more of a loose and a little bit more of a carefree approach could benefit us."