Giants targeting Gary Pettis as third base coach under rookie manager Tony Vitello

MILWAUKEE — Hector Borg didn’t last long as the Giants’ third-base coach, and his interim replacement, Ron Wotus, doesn’t seem to be long for the gig, either.The Giants are in discussions with Gary Pettis to become first-year manager Tony Vitello’s third third base coach in as many months, a major-league source confirmed Monday afternoon.Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the sides were in agreement, though the Giants have not announced anything and Vitello indicated they were still not yet across the finish line.“Definitely closer,” the manager said before the Giants began a four-game series against the Brewers.“There’s been a couple twists and turns to it.”Pettis, 68, is a veteran third-base coach, most recently holding the title for 10 years under three different managers with the Astros until his contract wasn’t renewed after 2024.

Before that, he coached third and first on Ron Washington’s staff with the Rangers for eight seasons.An Oakland native, Pettis’ name should be familiar for local sports fans: Dante Pettis, the former 49ers receiver, is one of his four children.He also played 11 big-league seasons as an outfielder and a speed demon for the Angels, Tigers, Rangers and Padres.The Giants reassigned Borg to a player development role and elevated Wotus before their weekend series against the Rockies that began the road trip.Borg, in his first season on the major-league staff after two decades in the organization, became the center of attention for the wrong reasons too many times.

The tipping point apparently came in the finale of their home stand Wednesday, when he waved Willy Adames into an out at home plate in a 3-2 loss that finished off a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks.Despite an emphasis in spring training, San Francisco has been the worst base-running team in the majors, according to FanGraphs’ all-encompassing metric. Entering Monday, the Giants had been thrown out on the bases 18 times, tied for the ninth-m...