THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Jan. 18, 2014

When former Seattle Mariner Mike Blowers retired from playing baseball in 1999, the furthest thing from his mind was what he'd be doing next.

Years later, he's remained right at home as one of the voices of Mariner baseball as a commentator during M's broadcasts for Root Sports network.

BLOWERS WAS in Kootenai County with the Mariner Caravan this week, visiting the Kootenai County Boys and Girls Club in Post Falls on Wednesday, as well as Bryan Elementary on Thursday afternoon, along with other Mariner players and personnel.

"It wasn't really something that I thought about, to be honest with you," Blowers said of becoming an announcer. "I really wasn't sure what I was going to do once I got done playing."

Blowers attended Bethel High in Spanaway, Wash., then moved on to Tacoma Community College before finishing at the University of Washington. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft and had three stints with the Mariners from 1992-95, '97 and '99, finishing his career on Oct. 3, 1999.

"I always felt I would get into coaching or be a teacher and coach high school sports," Blowers said. "This whole (announcing) thing evolved over a period of time. The more I did it, the more I enjoyed it, so it has kind of worked out."

Before going on-screen, Blowers was an analyst on Seattle-based KOMO radio for four years.

Blowers still enjoys coming to the ballpark every day.

"I think the biggest thing is I love the game of baseball," Blowers said. "When I was finished playing, I was completely away from the game for a year. What it does is it gives me a chance to be around the game I love.

Safeco Field is awesome and it's home. I went to high school and college in that area and it just keeps me around the game. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I wasn't around it."

Blowers will begin his seventh year in the booth when the season begins in April.

WHILE HE had the itch to coach before, Blowers, 48, remains content in the broadcast booth.

"I've had the chances to do some things, but at this point, I like my job a lot," Blowers said. "I'm very fortunate. There's not many people that get to do what I do, especially in my hometown. It's pretty rare, so that thought is gone and has passed me now."

In November, the Seattle Mariners signed Robinson Cano to a 10-year deal, but overshadowing that has been the playoff run of the Seattle Seahawks, which play just across the street at CenturyLink Field.

"I'm a big Seahawks fan and my boys play football, so they're into it," Blowers said. "I'm not sure that we'll have any momentum from that, but the one thing I know is that the people and fans in Seattle and around the Northwest will support a winning club. With the signing of Cano, that hopefully will get the guys turned in the right direction and the fans will show up."

All Blowers has to do is point to the 1995 season, when he was the starting third baseman on the Mariners' first playoff team that advanced to the American League Championship Series before losing to Cleveland.

"I was fortunate to play on some teams that had tremendous fan support," Blowers said. "But you've got to get things turned in the right direction - and I think the Cano signing is great for that. The one thing that would be pretty cool to see is a Super Bowl champion Seahawks and when they're done, we'll be all revved up and ready to go."

Pitchers and catchers for the Mariners report to spring training in Peoria, Ariz., on Feb. 12, just 10 days after the Super Bowl is played.

WILL THIS team surprise some folks this year? Maybe.

"We've seen a lot of young players from within the organization definitely," Blowers said. "But I think you've got to have a veteran presence and some stars on the team. And I think that's why the Cano signing was important, to take some pressure off some of the younger guys, but I'm excited. Kyle Seager is a comer and has played well over the last two years and will just continue to get better. I want to see what Mike Zunino can do behind the plate and everyone in the organization is excited about Mike. Brad Miller played great last year as well at shortstop. There's some pieces in place, but there's no question that they've got to have some veterans along with stars -and that's why I'm excited to have Cano with Felix (Hernandez)."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.