In just a few weeks, the San Francisco Giants can finally put an end to what has been a disappointing 2026 season.

The Giants just dropped a series to the New York Mets, whose season is hardly going any better, and they have lost three of their last four games. At the time of writing, 18 games are left for San Francisco, and it has an opportunity to finish strong under first-year manager Tony Vitello, but it is hard to envision that occurring.

For Vitello, the adversity he is facing as the Giants' manager predates the arduous 2026 season, and he recently discussed it at length with Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

For Vitello, the path to becoming a Major League Baseball manager was different, and he has paid for it.

As Baggarly reports, Vitello took the position knowing that some in the sport didn't support him. How Vitello received the job has drawn criticism and proverbial glares.

Whether it is his salary of $3.5 million, his position as a manager despite no prior MLB experience, or both, Vitello has not been entirely welcomed to The Show with open arms.

When those sentiments are combined with the type of season the Giants have had, the criticisms become louder. It has been an uphill climb for Vitello, who was revered at his former post as the coach of University of Tennessee baseball.

For Vitello, the transition into his current role has required a mental and physical adjustment.

A loss to the Mets on Sunday marked San Francisco’s 85th of the season, which is how many SEC games Vitello lost during his eight seasons at Tennessee. When Baggarly asked him about the process of dealing with so many losses in one campaign, Vitello was candid in his response and emphasized that it has not been easy.

Even in wins, Vitello said that he can be hard on himself. Yet if he is too hard on himself over the course of a 162-game season, it can become more taxing than it would have been in the collegiate ranks.

The adversity Vitello has faced has been combated by starting the day right through workouts or leaning on others for counsel. He also tries to keep things in perspective by making comparisons to the difficulties of his job now vs. when he was at Tennessee. Both have their challenges.

While it has not been an easy season, Vitello’s enjoyment in the game has not wavered much. When things are hard, as they often have been, his perspective is crucial.