Mariners & ROOT SPORTS introduce PlayersCast

The Seattle Mariners and ROOT SPORTS are bringing fans a unique perspective when the Mariners meet the Detroit Tigers on Friday, May 18 with PlayersCast. Former Mariners players Mike Blowers, Dan Wilson and Ryan Rowland-Smith will take over the TV booth as they take fans inside the game.
All three former players are now experienced members of the Mariners broadcast team. However, their roles have been mostly focused on providing analysis from the studio or the booth while Aaron Goldsmith, Dave Sims, Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. provide play-by-play on ROOT SPORTS and Mariners Radio Network.
On Friday, the TV booth will not have a traditional play-by-play announcer. Instead, Blowers, Wilson and Rowland-Smith will take the fans inside the minds of the players, sharing insights and stories about the game on the field and the sport in general.
"What would it be like to eavesdrop on the conversations that take place on the top step of the dugout? Mike, Dan and Ryan will share their views on the game from the perspective of someone who's been there," said Kevin Martinez, Mariners Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "The PlayersCast format will allow for a deeper baseball discussion while having some fun along the way."
"We're looking forward to bringing fans an innovative telecast that will showcase the game exclusively through the lens of former Major League players," said Jon Bradford, VP, Executive Producer at ROOT SPORTS. "This new format will provide the perfect platform for Mike, Dan and Ryan to relate their personal experience to what's happening on the field."
Mike Blowers is in his 12^th season as the Mariners TV analyst. A longtime fan favorite, Mike did three tours with the Mariners from 1992-1995, 1997 and 1999. During his 11-year Major League career, Mike also played for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's.
Dan Wilson, a member of the Mariners Hall of Fame, has been a regular contributor to Mariners TV and radio broadcasts for the last several years. Regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, Dan was catcher on each of the Mariners postseason teams. Wilson's Major League career spanned 14 season - two with the Cincinnati Reds (1992-1993) and 12 with the Mariners (1994-2005).
Ryan Rowland-Smith made his Major League debut for the Mariners on June 22, 2007, against the Cincinnati Reds at Safeco Field, striking out the first batter he faced: Ken Griffey Jr. Rowland-Smith played four seasons for the Mariners (2007-2010) as a member of the starting rotation as well as in relief. He also played for the Houston Astros (2011), Cubs (2012), Red Sox (2013) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2013). A native of Sydney, he also played in the Australian Baseball League for the Sydney Blue Sox and Brisbane Bandits, won a silver medal with Team Australia in the 2004 Olympics and was part of two Australian World Baseball Classic teams. Since 2015, Rowland-Smith has made occasional appearances as an analyst on Mariners radio and TV broadcasts as well as ROOT SPORTSpre and postgame programs.
The ROOT SPORTS PlayersCast production team will be led by Jim Armintrout (Director) and Curtis Wilson (Senior Events Producer).