Jason Kanzler officially introduced himself as the Seattle Mariners’ new manager on Wednesday, yet the Houston Astros were conspicuously absent from his vocabulary. Despite spending three seasons as the Astros’ hitting coach, Kanzler never uttered the name of his former club during the 30-minute press conference. Instead, he leaned into the intense AL West rivalry by jokingly referring to the divisional powerhouse as “the team that shall not be named,” a playful nod to the decade-long dominance of Houston in the region.
Manager’s witty “team that shall not be named” bit highlights AL West rivalry tension
The bit quickly caught on, with General Manager Justin Hollander and multiple reporters joining in on the banter. Kanzler used the euphemism to frame his optimism for Seattle, stating, “I fondly remember coming here when I was with the team that shall not be named, and what distinctly stands out to me is this atmosphere is electric.” He expressed a desire to “ride the lightning” with the organization, signaling an intent to harness the high-energy environment of T-Mobile Park to shift the competitive balance in the division.
This lighthearted approach masks a serious strategic shift for the Mariners, who are looking to break the Astros’ stranglehold on the AL West. By avoiding direct mention of their rivals, Kanzler emphasized unity and focus on Seattle’s own identity rather than fixating on the competition. The press conference set a tone of confident humility, suggesting that while the Astros remain the benchmark for success in the league, the Mariners are ready to forge their own path under new leadership.
Source: Yahoo Sports
