SAN DIEGO — A day after Willy Adames’ work ethic was called into question on national television, Giants manager Tony Vitello deemed the criticism “bulls–t” while defending the franchise shortstop in the middle of a miserable season.
Wayne Randazzo, the play-by-play man for Apple TV’s broadcast of the Giants’ 7-0 loss to the Padres on Friday, mentioned that for Adames, who has been one of the worst defenders in sport, “it had been a little harder to commit” to regular work with infield coach Ron Washington.
Typically a team’s manager will meet with the broadcast crew before a national telecast, and Vitello appeared to believe that his words had been twisted. However, team sources told the California Post that Adames’ inconsistent pregame work has caught the ire of some in the organization.
“Questioning the work ethic there, first of all, is not anything close to what I put out there,” Vitello said. “It’s bulls–t, is what it is. … Anyone who’s around Wash, you don’t have a chance to buy in. It’s not an option. You do. And then the work is put in.”
Adames made a brief appearance at his locker but was unavailable to comment before Saturday’s game. He has been dealing with persistent back issues for much of the season, which he has previously said have forced him to spend more time in the training room. He takes some days off from pregame infield drills but also participates on other days, such as before Friday’s game.
Asked if he believed Adames’ back problems had impacted his defense, Vitello acknowledged, “I think for a period of time it did.” By Outs Above Average (minus-12), Adames has been the second-worst shortstop in the majors, and his 15 errors put him on pace for a career high.
Adames’ season at the plate has been almost as ugly, combining a career-low walk rate (6.6%) combined with his highest strikeout rate since 2021 (20.0%) for the seventh-lowest on-base percentage (.280) of any hitter with enough at-bats to qualify for the leaderboards.
“Willy probably works harder than any offensive player we have on his swing,” Vitello said. “If anything he could even deduct a couple swings. That’s not a jab; it’s more of a compliment.”
Washington, renowned for his ability to mint Gold Glove winners, joined Vitello’s coaching staff before this season and has forged his latest masterpiece in Adames’ double play partner.
Just on the other side of second base, Luis Arraez has transformed from a below-average first baseman into one of majors’ better second basemen. There isn’t a day that goes by where Arraez isn’t going through pregame drills with Washington in front of the Giants’ dugout.
Likewise, Bryce Eldridge is a regular visitor of Washington’s, and so are most of the other younger players to pass through the clubhouse this year. But even in spring training, before his back issues cropped up, Adames didn’t work as frequently with Washington as others.
“If you’re going to break down our infielders as it relates to time they invest … your first answer should be Bryce is No. 1 because he’s the youngest and he’s also learning a new position,” Vitello said. “Then you slide over to second base and it’s a guy who’s adamant about showing the league that he can do what he’s shown he can do because this very place here labeled him a first baseman. So when I’m asked about the left side of the infield, those are two guys that have played those positions their whole career.”
Clearly, the comments from Randazzo didn’t sit well with Vitello, who brought up “defensive work” on his own at the end of his standard pregame session with reporters.
“Three people that plop in on one gameday, try and do quick research — I’ve done it before — you’ve got to talk like you know what you’re talking about,” he said. “But you don’t know the story. … No matter what anybody says, any question of that is bulls–t.”
