Rafael Devers’ ‘bad optics’ moment leaves Mike Krukow scratching his head

Like most Giants fans, broadcaster Mike Krukow was befuddled by first baseman Rafael Devers‘ antics and attitude when manager Tony Vitello sent rookie Jonah Cox to pinch-run for him in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday.Krukow wasn’t with the team in Miami, so he was watching the Giants’ eventual 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park with his wife, Jennifer.“So two things that kind of jumped off the page and I’m kind of scratching my head,” Krukow told John Dickinson and Larry Krueger on KNBR 680 on Monday morning. “Jennifer’s kind of scratching her head. And everybody is scratching their head. What was then another head-scratcher was why Jonah Cox didn’t steal. He never did and there was a pop-up from Jung Hoo Lee and a ground-ball [from] Willy Adames, double play, game over. And everybody’s in the dugout scratching their head. It happened that fast. So it was just a bad optic.”In the top of the ninth, with the Giants trailing by a run, Devers worked a leadoff walk. Cox, who has 163 stolen bases in four minor-league seasons, immediately ran out to replace Devers.But Devers didn’t want to be taken out of the game and motioned to the dugout to not remove him. But at that point, Cox already had been introduced, so there was no turning back.Devers was forced to leave the game, but his frustration was visible from a mile away. He covered his face with his helmet, but still could be seen screaming. And when he returned to the dugout, he avoided the traditional butt-tap from bench coach Jayce Tingler. Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M — SF Giants on NBCS (&commat;NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026 Krukow doesn’t believe Vitello has lost the Giants’ clubhouse, but the longtime analyst did bring up the topic.“I’ve seen situations in baseball that are very detrimental to a manager’s credibility,” Krukow told Dickinson and Krueger. And certainly, I’m looking at this, thinking this might be one of those times. But I don’t know what’s going on. I’m not there. I’m not in the clubhouse. And I really refuse to sit there and point a finger here when there’s something as sensitive as this. After the game, I listened to Vitello’s comments and whatnot. He said he talks to [Devers] every day. He thought that was the right move and move on.“So I’m not really going to sit here and say he’s lost control of the clubhouse because I don’t think he has. What I’ve seen when I’ve been around the team in the clubhouse at the ballpark in San Francisco, I think that Tony Vitello is a working manager. He’s all over the place and I think he does have control of the team. That’s why you see something like this that has the bad optics, that we’re all scratching our head with, that’s the first thing you think about. But I don’t really feel I can make a comment on something that sensitive, having not been there.”Vitello downplayed the situation after the game.“A part of it, too — you know how competitive he is. He wants to stay in the game,” Vitello told reporters in Miami.The first-year MLB manager also said he doesn’t believe this is an incident where he needs to pull Devers aside for a conversation.“No, we talk every day,” Vitello said. “I’m good. I’d rather have guys like [Logan Webb] that you’ve got to rip them off the field, as opposed to vice versa.” Tony Vitello addresses the odd situation with Rafael Devers in the ninth inning pic.twitter.com/DQnQkm3YRS — SF Giants on NBCS (&commat;NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026 Devers, in his second season with the Giants, isn’t putting up the numbers he is accustomed to, slashing just .238/.302/.433 with 11 and 36 RBI in 77 games this season. He does lead baseball with 23 doubles this season.But Devers’ 2026 numbers, if they don’t improve, would be his worst during a full campaign since 2018, his second MLB season with the Boston Red Sox.And because of Devers’ struggles, coupled with the entire team playing below expectations, the three-time All-Star has been the subject of trade speculation.Coming off a 2-3 East Coast road trip, the Giants are back home this week to host the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves.Because the Giants are off Monday, the next chance for Vitello, and possibly Devers, to address the situation will be before Tuesday’s game against the A’s.Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Rafael Devers’ ‘bad optics’ moment leaves Mike Krukow scratching his head

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