THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: August 28, 2013

There are plenty of ways to describe the season of the Seattle Mariners with a little over a month remaining.

Disappointing, sure.

Lackluster, OK.

Hope for the future, maybe.

AS THE season began, there was at least some hope that maybe they'd make a move out of the basement of the American League West standings for the first time in a long time.

They have, almost by default, but the Houston Astros having an even worse record makes it a lot easier to win a couple more games.

Seattle entered Tuesday's game against Texas with a 59-71 record and will almost certainly finish the season under .500 and far from the playoff chase. This also coming from a team that won eight straight at one point this year and seemed like it had turned a corner.

Jason Bay, a former North Idaho College outfielder, also snapped an eight-game M's skid earlier this year with a walk-off single against Texas. Bay has since been released after beginning to struggle.

Once the season began, the parade of veterans coming in to help the young guys - Michael Morse, Raul Ibanez, Kendrys Morales and Franklin Gutierrez - gave at least some hope that the team's experience might be enough to help them finish with more wins this year than last (75).

To do that, they'll have to win at least half of their remaining (32) games, something that is doable, but by no way an easy thing to do.

IT IS manager Eric Wedge's third season as manager in Seattle, and this is likely his toughest since being hired in 2011.

Midway through the season, Wedge suffered a stroke and missed a good amount of time recovering. They haven't won since he returned last Friday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Had Wedge stayed home for the remainder of the season, it be understandable.

Being a competitor, he returned, likely managing for his job should the team decide to go in another direction.

Now, with all of the struggles of the team, some of those veterans have been placed on waivers, with Morales being claimed by an undisclosed team on Monday.

He might not be the first one to go, as Morse, Ibanez and Gutierrez could follow him out the door, whether it be now or when the season ends through free agency.

Meanwhile, some of their minor league players, like Brad Miller, Nick Franklin and Mike Zunino - who weren't even being talked about as key contributors when the season began - have showed some promise in limited time with the team.

If area high school teams are any indication, there's nothing wrong with playing the younger guys to gain experience to be better down the road.

They might be a long way from a championship now, but eventually, they'll figure it out.

I hope.

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].