Ahead of the San Francisco Giants’ matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies, manager Tony Vitello provided a candid look into a team still working to find consistency while carefully managing workloads early in the season.

One of the biggest decisions in the lineup was giving catcher Patrick Bailey a scheduled day off. Vitello explained the plan had been in place, saying, “Bailey and Susac, we’ve kind of mapped that schedule out well in advance…you don’t want to wear Bailey out at any point in the season, especially early on.”

That approach reflects a broader emphasis on keeping players fresh, even as the team searches for rhythm.

Vitello noted that physically, the group is in a good place, but results have lagged behind expectations. “I think all of our guys still feel fresh… everyone’s a little frustrated at times. We haven’t played as well together as a group,” he said.

Behind the plate, Daniel Susac continues to earn trust from the pitching staff. Vitello highlighted the comfort level pitchers have with him, adding, “All the pitchers are truly comfortable with Susac…it just kind of worked out the way that it did.”

In the outfield, Harrison Bader remains part of a rotating mix as the Giants look to balance rest and opportunity. Vitello emphasized the importance of involvement across the roster: “I’m a fan of everybody getting involved…you’d also like a bench where you can utilize your weapons.”

Matchups also played a role in shaping the lineup, particularly against Cristopher Sanchez. Vitello acknowledged the preparation involved, noting, “We probably put as much time as you can imagine into looking at ways you can beat this guy.”

Offensively, the Giants are still ironing out inconsistencies. Vitello pointed to hitters pressing at times, trying to do too much instead of staying within their approach. “He wants to hit the ball a long way…you get a little bit of that overzealousness,” Vitello said when discussing recent at-bats.

Despite a slow start, Vitello stressed the importance of perspective over a 162-game season. “It doesn’t sit easy with you…but thank goodness there’s 162 games,” he said. “You’ve got to manage those down feelings just as well as if things were going great.”

As roles continue to take shape, Vitello made it clear that performance will ultimately decide opportunities. “We’re still finding out a little bit of what we got…guys have to push themselves to the top of that list,” he said.

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