Buster Posey's Giants hired Vitello to manage despite his lack of experience in pro ball as either a player or coach. "It's groundbreaking," Glavine said.

TORONTO — Dan Wilson was between the white lines the last two times the Seattle Mariners came this close to the World Series, a catcher on the teams that lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. He swung a bat and handled a pitching staff and ostensibly had a chance to affect the outcome.

After an uncharacteristically quiet stretch from starting pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to start the postseason, the 31-year-old put together a ri