THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Jan. 17, 2015

Expectations are high this year for the Seattle Mariners.

Then again, what else can you expect out of a team that added the American League home run champion, a left-handed starter and some outfielders to fill in key spots.

JUST A few weeks before pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Arizona, Seattle Mariners Danny Farquhar and James Jones stopped by the Kootenai County Boys and Girls Club in Post Falls on Thursday.

"Absolutely they're high," said Farquhar, a 5-foot-9 right handed relief pitcher born in Pembroke Pines, Fla., of expectations for the upcoming season. "We went out and signed Nelson Cruz to that four or five-year deal, have Robinson (Cano) coming back and Felix (Hernandez) is an amazing pitcher. We've got that rotation and bullpen set up, and with our offense, we should be ready to roll."

Jones, a 6-4 lefty outfielder from Brooklyn, N.Y., joined the team on April 18 at Miami, then joined the team again on May 5. He joined Edgar Martinez as the only players in Mariners history to hit safely in each of their first 10 starts.

"Just being able to bring some speed and that option, it all worked out really well," Jones said of his rookie season.

At the trade deadline last year, Seattle acquired Austin Jackson from Detroit. Seattle has also added outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith to a group that includes first-round pick Dustin Ackley.

"I'm just going to go out and do the best I can in whatever role they want me in," Jones said. "Hopefully we'll make the playoffs again."

THE PLAYOFFS chase came down to the final day in 2014, with Oakland winning at Texas to avoid a one-game playoff in Seattle on the Monday after the regular season ended.

"It was a blast," Farquhar said. "We had the fan support coming out for the games and it was a lot of fun to be in the chase. I was there in 2013 when we were out of it, and it wasn't as much fun when you're not playing for something. Last year, it was definitely more enjoyable."

"It was an amazing experience," Jones said. "I learned a lot. It really felt like a family out there. Everyone was pulling for everyone else, and I just loved that we had some meaningful games up until the last one."

During the regular season, it might not get any more meaningful around Safeco Field than when Hernandez is on the mound.

"When Felix is pitching, most of us guys in the bullpen just shut it down," Farquhar said. "We know he's going to go out and dominate. He's an unbelievable pitcher and when he goes out, he's going to compete. He had that streak of seven innings-plus allowing two or less runs, and did that for most of the season."

Sometimes when in center field, Jones finds himself questioning pitches when he comes off the field.

"The level of energy he brings and is presence on the field is amazing," Jones said. "I find myself coming back into the dugout asking the catcher what pitch that was because I've never seen pitches move the way his do. It's amazing to see that from that point of view."

Jones knows a little bit about pitching, as he was a pitcher in college in New York, topping 95 miles an hour before being converted to an outfielder when the Mariners selected him in 2009.

"I've never went to (Seattle manager) Lloyd (McClendon) about it," Jones said. "I went to my coaches about it in the minor leagues, but they banned me from the mound."

BOTH FARQUHAR and Jones are from the east coast, with allegiances to NFL teams from their hometowns rather than that squad that plays across the street from Safeco Field.

"They're my third team," Farquhar said. "The Miami Dolphins are my No. 1 and the Saints, since I live in Louisiana, are my No. 2. Since I play for the Mariners, I root for (the Seahawks) if the other two aren't in it."

"The Seahawks are secondary to me because I grew up in New York and I'm a Giants fan," Jones said.

As far as catching some of the momentum from a strong finish from football to baseball season, it remains to be seen.

"Absolutely it could," Farquhar said. "Baseball is such a different game. They (football) play a short 16-game season and we're at 162 games. It's unbelievable how quick the football season goes by. Baseball, you've got to continuously compete day in and day out."

As far as 2015 goes, it's a process.

"I can only do my part and relieve games when coach Lloyd calls me into games," Farquhar said. "I think (Mariners general manager) Jack (Zduriencik) put together a team that's really going to go far."

"Lloyd always tell us it's a journey," Jones said. "We don't want to be too high or too low, and just stay in the middle. To have that support through it all, it will be worth waiting for."

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.