Giants camp: Tony Vitello recounts the process that led him to San Francisco

Tony Vitello said media reports accelerated events around his departure from Tennessee and that the coverage complicated his decision-making as he began his first week as the San Francisco Giants' manager.

Tony Vitello is in his first week as the San Francisco Giants' manager and spoke with reporters during spring camp. He used a Monday media session to recount the days leading up to his decision to leave Tennessee. Vitello said media reporting about the Giants' interest hastened the timeline and made his decision-making more difficult. The comments came as he prepared for the team's second full-squad workout. Key details: - Vitello described experiencing a period of intense reporting in mid-October after The Athletic published that the Giants were "closing in" on him; he said some outlets treated that reporting as if he had already accepted the job. - He said the reporting led to four emotionally fraught days before his eventual acceptance and that it scrambled the order of operations for his Tennessee staff. - Vitello said the coverage created distraction and consternation among coaches and players at Tennessee during practice sessions. - Prior to this hire, Vitello had not coached at the professional level; the Giants viewed him as a communicator who could adapt with the right support staff. - His early interviews as Giants manager have included frequent references to his time at Tennessee and to people from his college coaching career. Summary: Vitello's remarks highlighted how media coverage affected the timing and atmosphere of his departure from Tennessee and prompted internal questions there. He is now continuing his work with the Giants during spring training while establishing his new role.