THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, April 8, 2015

It wasn't quite a sellout as anticipated, but it didn't matter.

Not with Felix Hernandez on the mound.

Especially on Opening Day.

THE GIMMICK that the Seattle Mariners have played off the last few years has been that they can open the roof at Safeco Field and give fans a chance to see what outdoor baseball is like compared to the days in the Kingdome.

Unlike recent trips to the opener, after it was rolled back following batting practice, the roof stayed open the entire day.

No snow, rain or whatever spring weather could be imagined.

Monday afternoon, there was a buzz around the stadium before the game that the Mariners are World Series contenders, but what else do you expect?

From the time when Hernandez walked out of the bullpen with Aloe Blacc's "I'm the Man" blaring from the speakers, to Fernando Rodney firing off his first arrow in the ninth inning, it was the Mariners' day.

Not even a home run in the first inning by Los Angeles center fielder Mike Trout - who also launched one in the Bullpen Market during batting practice - could dampen the day.

A FEW of Seattle's big bats failed to record a hit, but it didn't end up mattering as Seth Smith went 3 for 3 on the day. Each of those hits were for extra bases - two doubles and a triple - with his second one pushing across the go-ahead run in the third inning.

For Hernandez, the game was nothing new.

He struck out 12 at home in the season opener in 2007, so a two-hitter over seven innings - with only one walk and a hit batter - wasn't much of a surprise.

Just how calm, cool and collected he was did surprise me a little though.

He struck out three of the four guys he faced in the first inning, came up with a line drive back at him, and took a slow walk back to the dugout after getting three outs.

MONDAY WAS just the first of 162 games this season, so nothing is guaranteed that this will springboard the team to contender status.

The Mariners has now won nine straight on Opening Day, but that hasn't translated into playoff berths yet. The M's last made the playoffs in 2001.

Seattle had a good opening day, likely because it had been a while since the Mariners had the chance to start the season at home.

We'll find out soon enough just how good the Mariners really are this year in due time.

Right now, all 32 teams in Major League Baseball really think they've got a shot at advancing to the playoffs this season.

But there's only one team with Felix pitching.

And - at least with him on the mound - it appears that they'll be a tough team to score against this season.

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 jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.