The Mariners play their final series of the season this weekend against the Angels in California. The team has now gone 16 consecutive years without a playoff appearance - the longest drought in Major League Baseball history.
KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel breaks down what went wrong this season and what might go right for the team next year.
Injuries + Errors
Thiel said injuries were a big problem for the Mariners this season. Nearly all of the starting pitchers and several key position players were out for stretches of time in 2017.
The Mariners were strong offensively this year. But Thiel said it wasn't enough to counter all the injuries and the fielding errors and poor base running that plagued the team.
Biggest Frustration
Thiel said that perhaps the biggest letdown for fans is the Mariners' inability to get to the playoffs.
To make matters worse, the Minnesota Twins won the American League's second wildcard playoff spot after losing 103 games last year.
"They went into the same talent pool Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto did and they came away with enough players to turn the season around and make the playoffs in one year."
"It's the first time in Major League history that a team that had lost 100 or more games the previous year made the playoffs."
"The problem that the Mariners have had this year was they didn't have enough farm system prospects to trade for veteran, quality players."
"To have another team like the Twins leap over the Mariners, as the Houston Astros have done, I think that's what aggravates fans the most."
On The Bright Side...
According to Thiel, bright spots for next season include strong offense and defense from rookie outfielders Mitch Haninger, Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia and the offensive second coming of quality catcher Mike Zunino.
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