San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello addressed reporters on June 16, 2026, detailing the conversations and conditions that led to the suspension of the Giants-Braves game due to rain.
Vitello said during the press conference that the decision to start the game was defensible, crediting the grounds crew for their preparation despite unpredictable weather. "The grounds crew here, they worked their butt off because the weather here is what it is," he said. The game had already been pushed back approximately 20 minutes to give the crew additional time, with an expectation that the field would be ready and rain would stop around 9:30 PM. Instead, a second wave of showers moved through, and Vitello noted the plate area became the worst spot on the field. "It started to look a little soupy out there," he added.
Vitello acknowledged he had little authority in the final suspension call, deferring to the umpires and officials who he said had more experience navigating such situations. "I'm low man on the totem pole. I didn't have much say other than just you hate seeing guys get injured," he stated. He noted that those officials described it as "one of the stickier situations or more difficult in-between type situations" they had encountered. His primary concern throughout the delay, he explained, was player safety — specifically not wanting a second player to get injured after conditions worsened. Vitello also expressed sympathy for the starting pitchers, including Luis, Jong He, Baldwin, and Harris, who had been prepared to throw all day only to face difficult, wet conditions on the mound.
Looking ahead to the doubleheader, Vitello mentioned that the team's first priority is to organize pitching plans around Robbie. "We're going to, as soon as we knock this out, kind of get a — you know — organize and arrange what we want to do with Robbie first," he noted. The team will also be permitted to carry a 27th player for the second game of the doubleheader — not the first — a factor Vitello said could affect how the staff manages starters versus the bullpen.
Vitello also indicated that Gauge is likely in the mix for the 27th roster spot before the series against Atlanta concludes, adding that the suspension "probably makes a runway a little easier" for the following day's planning.