In case you missed it, the Mariners introduced manager Jason Kanzler in a press conference Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Park…and so begins another chapter for the team under the leadership of President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto.
After a roughly month-long search, the Mariners tapped Kanzler who, despite having coached with the Astros and more recently served as the farm director for the Cubs, has never been a manager. Some fans and critics of the team may have hoped for more of a known
figure to head the clubhouse, especially considering neither of the first two managers under Dipoto had managerial experience either.
I admittedly haven’t formed a strong opinion on the hire. A lot of this probably sources from lack of information on Kanzler, plus my own default belief that a manager only matters so much. There also weren’t many names publicly considered, and one of those few withdrew their name from contention. The early skepticism that the hire may evoke for some is largely understandable — a 36-year-old with a unique background but lack of managerial experience is a pretty big question mark for a team that’s not only coming off a 76-win season, but also desperate to take advantage of the core that’s taken them closer to a World Series than they’ve ever been. That said, I went into viewing the introductory press conference with an open mind; he’s the new manager, regardless of any opinion I might have before I ever see him leading the team from the top step.
Personally, the thing that struck me most from Kanzler’s first public appearance was his thoughtful answers to the questions from the media. In LL’s Build-a-Manager piece, I talked about modern managers functioning as baseball’s version of a middle manager. From this standpoint, a strong ability to communicate may be the single most essential trait for someone new to the role. Whether it be relating with the players, working with the front office and coaching personnel to optimize in-game decisions, or speaking with the media, communication is always going to be at the forefront. Kanzler, regardless of the level of success he will eventually find in Seattle, seems ready to excel in this aspect of the job. Success on the field will need to accompany, of course, but Wednesday’s presser nonetheless marked a promising start to his tenure.
The full press conference is linked here if you haven’t seen it already. With that, here’s today’s discussion prompt:
What is your first impression of Jason Kanzler following his introductory press conference? Has your opinion on the hire been swayed?
Let me know your thoughts down in the comments!
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