The Seattle Mariners enter play on Saturday at 72-82 and in third place in the American League West. And though they haven't been officially eliminated from playoff contention yet, their playoff hopes are all but dead. They officially stand at less than one percent.

It's a far cry from where the Mariners were a year ago: On their way to clinching the American League West title for the first time since 2001. Weeks later, the Mariners appeared in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Now, it looks like the Mariners are on the verge of some real organizational change. Manager Dan Wilson is not expected to be brought back, and their will be some roster turnover as well.

However, despite the failures of this season, it seems as if President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto is safe.

I have said on multiple occasions that I think Dipoto should come back given the relative health of the organization as a whole, mixed with the uncertainty of the labor situation ahead. However, the retorts I often get are fair: How do you bring back a guy who has just two playoff appearances in what is about to be 11 years?

I took that question to ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast.

"And if you wanted to go big picture and fixate on that, if that's what (owner) John Stanton decides to fixate on, he could do that, right?

Those numbers are those numbers. But it was less than a year (ago) in which they were playing Game 7 in the American League Championship Series. It was less than a year ago, , that they were a game away from winning (getting to) the World Series.

It all depends on which, I guess feet, for lack of a better way to describe it, would you place a greater value on, and it's totally up to John Stanton, right? It's completely up to him as to how much that credit he's going to give for Jerry and to Justin (Hollander) for building the team to go that far last year and to put the team in position as they move forward with what they have."

The Mariners will be back on the field on Saturday night at 6:10 p.m. PT against the Rockies. The M's won 5-4 on Friday night thanks to a late home run from Lazaro Montes. Bryce Miller will be on the mound for Seattle.

In addition to our talk with Olney, another edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast with former M's infielder and current broadcaster Ryon Healy is out. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.