SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers’ interpreter, the Giants’ Spanish-language announcer Erwin Higueros, was halfway through translating his answer into English when the Giants’ first baseman interrupted him. He had something more to say.
“And, and, and, and, and, and,” Devers said in Spanish, winding up for a Donald Trump-style rant against the media.
“I think what it is, the media in general, you guys just blow everything out of proportion. I think it’s a reflection that I really don’t talk to you guys. I really don’t talk to the media. So because I don’t talk to the media, things like this happen. So you guys gotta write everything and try to blow everything out of proportion.”
It’s true: Devers doesn’t really talk to the media.
It’s not like he didn’t have his opportunity to explain himself and provide the clarity he sought to Tuesday, two days after he openly disrespected manager Tony Vitello by wagging his finger, attempting to shoo away a speedier pinch runner and storming back to the clubhouse.
Devers was asked after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Marlins to provide his perspective.
He declined.
Matt Chapman and Vitello were left to address the eyebrow-raising incident in the ninth inning of their third loss in three games in Miami. On Tuesday, president of baseball operations Buster Posey said he would have liked to see more accountability from his star first baseman who’s expected to anchor their lineup for another eight seasons.
“I think everybody has to be themselves,” Posey said. But, he continued, “I do think ultimately he understands there’s got to be some accountability. Sometimes it’s not fun. It’s not fun to stand in front of a camera or a microphone, but that’s something he’s going to need to work on.”
Devers, to his credit, answered questions for five minutes before the Giants began their homestand against the A’s. More importantly, he also cleared the air with Vitello.
Devers’ explanation expanded on what Vitello said after Sunday’s game — that it was all a miscommunication and he thought he was being lifted for Jonah Cox because of a hamstring issue that led Vitello to DH him earlier in the series.
Nevertheless, Posey described Devers’ actions as a “misstep.”
“We’re all prone to have missteps at times,” the former catcher turned top baseball executive said. “You could tell he’s frustrated. Look, the way the season’s gone, everybody’s frustrated. I think that’s a byproduct of frustration.”
Devers said he was trying to let his manager know that he was good to run, even though he still represented a far worse option as the potential tying run than the speedy Cox, who is on the roster almost for that express purpose.
Still, Devers said he apologized to Vitello, just in case “if he felt that I was disrespecting him.”
Vitello said after the game that he didn’t feel the need to speak with Devers about the incident, despite the star slugger openly undercutting the rookie manager’s authority.
It wasn’t the first time: Devers rejected former Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s request to play first base, leading to his trade to the Giants last June.
Devers was asked if he understood that this was a “bad look.”
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I know the type of person that I am, I know the type of person [Vitello] is. Like I said it wasn’t meant for me to be disrespectful to him.”
The optics alone raised questions about Vitello’s respect within the clubhouse, particularly coming from one of their most important and highly compensated players.
“I think he’s a great person, as a manager and a person,” Devers said of Vitello, chalking up his actions to the heat of the moment. “Obviously he’s getting a lot of experience. But we all respect and will just continue doing the things that he wants and having him lead us.”
Still, Vitello appreciated the gesture from Devers and said they hashed things out on what was surely an unpleasant six-hour flight home from Miami following a sweep against the Marlins.
“It was needed,” Vitello said Tuesday. “We were going to have a conversation. But it was a great talk. It was good of him to come back. We sat there and hung out for a little bit. I told you where I stand on that guy.”
Vitello was clear about his feelings toward Devers, who he said has a “great” relationship with his dad, Greg. They often run into each in the team hotel, Vitello said.
“I’m good to go into battle with him anytime. As a person, with how he treats my family, especially my dad, I’ll go to battle anytime with him off the field, too,” Vitello said, dipping into his rolodex of movie references for a line from “The Town.”
“If he came over to my condo and said I need your help, [but] you can’t ask about it, we’re gonna do some damage, all I’d say is who’s car are we going to take?”
