Could it get much worse? Mariners' blues continue

SEATTLE -- It was a promising off-season. Unfortunately, it's been downhill since opening day.

The Seattle Mariners were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Sept. 15 following a 12-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

2013 is the 12th straight year the boys in blue have failed to make the playoffs, and the fourth straight year the team will finish with a losing record.

But it's not just losing that has the Mariners' down. Ace pitcher Felix Hernandez has been out with a strained oblique. The team has lost seven out of their last 10, has a below-100 OPS+, and has struggled recently -- and the whole season, really -- in both pitching and hitting. Though the team increased its home run production since last season, big off-season acquisitions like Michael Morse have failed to do much behind the plate. And heralded up-and-comers, such as Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero showed down years again.

There were a few bright spots, such as the continued dominance of Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, the rebirth of Justin Smoak and the steady persistence of Kendrys Morales.

All-in-all, it was just another season for the Mariners to forget about.

But there's always next year, right? Right?