Sinking New York Mets Face Season Defining Stretch

It's really now or never for the New York Mets.

In June and most of July New York Mets fans had grown accustomed to spirited play, clutch hitting, and solid enough pitching, all while bowing to the alter of Mcdonald's mascot, Grimace, and humming Jose Iglesias' hit single, "Oh My God."

Well, those days feel like three years ago at this point as the Metropolitans have been mired in an August swoon that has knocked them out of the wild card, sitting on the outside looking in. Entering play on Monday, the Mets sit two games back of the Atlanta Braves for the final wild card slot.

San Diego and Arizona, both of whom were struggling to stay in the mix over a month ago, have been on fire ever since the calendar turned to August.

The Mets have not helped themselves. It's one thing to get swept by a good Seattle Mariners team. But Losing the series to the miserable LA Angels of Anaheim and Oakland A's, and failing to finish off the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon has put this season on the brink.

SLUMPING OFFENSE

When things were going well for the Mets in June and July almost everyone in the lineup was hitting consistently. Not so much now.

With slight exceptions to Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, the rest of the Mets lineup has struggled. Brandon Nimmo is hitting .208 in August with only two homers and six RBI; J. D. Martinez is hitting a paltry .204, and Francisco Alvarez is hitting .220 with only one RBI.

TRADE ACQUISITIONS NOT ADDING UP

When the Mets acquired Jesse Winker from the Washington Nationals at the deadline, they thought they would get the hitter who routinely hit the Mets hard whenever he faced them in the past. While Winker is hitting .292, when he has played, he hasn't produced much. In 15 games, he has only three RBI and two walks. Winker hasn't even cracked a home run yet in a Mets uniform.

Meanwhile, the Mets pitching additions haven't exactly lived up to their billing. Relievers Huascar Brazoban owns a 5.63 ERA in eight innings, while Ryne Stanek has an ERA of 10.50 in six innings.

Paul Blackburn, the lone starter whom the Mets acquired at the deadline from Oakland has been the best addition with a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings of work, but he also got shelled by his former team last week.

PITCHING PROBLEMS

It also doesn't help the Mets with the fact that Kodai Senga made only one start before leaving with a calf injury in his first start back from the Injury List. There is no telling when he will return, if at all this year, despite President of Baseball Ops, David Stearns saying he was optimistic Senga could begin throwing again soon.

Aside from Senga, the Mets starters just haven't been reliable enough. Yes, Luis Severino threw a complete game shutout vs. Miami on Saturday. It doesn't change the fact he gave up four or more runs in his previous three starts before Saturday's effort.

Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana have been equally frustrating to watch. The Mets' most consistent starter, believe it or not, right now is David Peterson (7-1, 3.04 ERA).

NOW OR NEVER

So here are the Mets sitting at 64-60, and they face what is absolutely the stretch that will determine their season. It begins Monday at Citi Field against the AL Least co-leaders, the Baltimore Orioles. Then the scene shifts out west when the Mets face the top two NL Wild Card leaders in the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. While the Mets wrap up that road trip against the lowly White Sox, it's pretty clear this season could be determined in the next 10 days.

Anything but a 6-4 record (at least) and Mets fans will have to turn the page to 2025.

MORE METS

The back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and teachers everywhere are digging into their own pockets to stock up on classroom essentials. According to the National Education Association, educators shell out an average of $500 to $750 annually on supplies their students need.

Many teachers say their districts don’t always provide everything needed to keep students engaged, comfortable, and ready to learn. A survey by the U.S. Department of Education reveals that 94 percent of teachers are spending their own money on classroom necessities. It’s not just teachers either. Support staff like bus drivers, front office personnel, classroom aides, and custodians are also using their own wages to buy supplies.

These purchases cover everything from paper, pencils, markers, and glue, to online learning program subscriptions, lab equipment, snacks for hungry kids, tissues, cleaning supplies, and even hand soap for the bathrooms.

Last year, CNN reported that most school supplies have jumped in price, sending the cost of writing tools and supplies such as crayons, pens, and pencils up nearly 19% year-over-year.

Jamesha Gilliam, a public high school English teacher in Marion County, Florida, keeps a locker in her class filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, and other stationery materials.

“I use my own money to keep it filled up during the year,” said Gilliam. But she was hit with sticker shock when she went to buy a bulk supply of unsharpened pencils. “I would get a 50-pack box for $10, and this year it’s closer to $25,” she shared with the outlet.

Parents have been noticing this as well with some sharing how the cost of back-to-school supplies has gotten out of hand.

TikTok user @cramer.crew, known as Christy, recently shared her annual back-to-school haul for two kids. Her list included the usual suspects like dry-erase markers, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, tissues, and paper towels. Most items were store brands, particularly Target's, which another local mom found to be the cheapest. Christy skipped big-ticket items like electronics and didn’t include backpacks or lunchboxes, which she bought separately. Despite reusing some items like her older child’s backpack and calculator, her total still came to $170.23.

“Absolutely insane. Insane!” she exclaimed.

Another parent, @addi_archers_mommy, known as Harlee, shared her frustration: “I just spent about $100 on my first grader’s school supplies,” she said. “And they wouldn’t even let me buy anything fun.”

She showed her haul, noting the specific name brands required. Although Harlee didn’t always stick to those brands, a teacher friend explained that these requests often come from experience, as investing in quality can save money long-term.

No one seems to blame teachers for the costs. In fact, Christy, in the comments of her video, expressed appreciation for teachers, telling one commenter, “Crazy how teachers are expected to provide it all.”

As the back-to-school season kicks off, some retailers are stepping up to ease the financial burden on teachers by offering discounts and special deals on classroom supplies. They’re rolling out special deals and discounts to help educators fill their classrooms without emptying their wallets. Ready to see which stores are making it easier for teachers to snag those must-have supplies? Take a look at the list below and find out who’s offering a helping hand this school year.

New members can get a $20 or $40 Costco Shop Card, an exclusive offer for teachers. Teachers also receive a 10% discount at most Dollar Tree locations by showing a valid school ID. At Michael’s, teachers save 15% on every purchase. Office Depot offers a 10% discount on in-store purchases for teachers. Staples provides a 20% discount on in-store purchases with an app coupon and teacher ID. Additionally, teachers can enjoy 20% off storewide at Target through Target Circle, available until Saturday, August 24.

Both teachers and students can access Adobe Pro, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign, for just $19.99 per month during the first year, and $34.99 per month thereafter. Additionally, teachers and their families can enjoy a 25% discount on AT&T wireless plans, starting at $27 per month for four lines. Instructors can save up to $25 per month on Verizon's Unlimited wireless plans. Canva offers free access to creating lesson plans, posters, and infographics through this link. Teachers get six months of Babbel lessons for $36, a 60 percent discount. Teachers also receive discounts on Google Workspace for Education, which includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more, as well as discounts on Chromebooks. Office 365 Education and Microsoft Teams are available for free, along with a 10% discount on Windows devices. The Apple Store for Education offers discounted items for K-12 teachers, including select Macbooks and iPad.

Books will always be essential for both students and teachers, and there are discounts available for educators looking to expand their collections. Teachers can enjoy up to 25% off on books, toys, and games by joining Barnes & Noble Educators. The Scholastic Teacher Store offers great items for 25% off and up to 50% off with other sales and deals. Scholastic also hosts book fairs and warehouse sales where teachers can purchase items at marked-down prices. Additionally, local bookstores often offer similar discounts for teachers, so it's worth checking out nearby options to find the best deals.