SAN FRANCISCO -- Tony Vitello fully recognizes he is an unconventional call-up to Major League Baseball, making the leap from the college coaching ranks at Tennessee to the San Francisco Giants while bypassing the minor leagues.

Yet, Vitello hardly seems fazed by the pressures of taking such a daunting path. "This is a challenge that has been presented to me," he said Thursday at his introductory news conference with the Giants.

He plans to get into offseason drills immediately, alongside his Giants team, throwing batting practice or hitting fungoes to help improve some fundamentals.

Vitello, 47, made it clear his skills are a far cry from his players' abilities after landing the job with no professional experience as a player or coach. He plans to lean on the team's veteran leaders

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