There are only eight home games in June for the Mets. Visits from the Brewers, Padres and Oakland A's are scheduled for Citi Field. The month starts with a road trip continuing the five game series in Philadelphia, then on to Chicago to play three night games against the Cubs [What!? No day baseball at Wrigley?]. Then the Mets make there yearly visit to my area in San Francisco. I will be at all three games with three different friends Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. After the six game home stand, a road trip to St Louis and Miami is next before two home games versus the A's [the Mets come to Oakland in August too!] then on to Pittsburgh and Atlanta to finish the month.
I'm looking forward to my annual Mets series at AT&T Park. It is really a wonderful place to watch a ballgame, not so fun to drive to and BART only goes to a station several blocks away. It seems that every year I go to see the Giants they have changed some freeway exit, have a new construction zone, or built a high rise on one of the previous parking lots. Since there are only three directions to get to downtown San Francisco [north - Golden Gate Bridge, south - Highway 101/San Mateo Bridge, east - new Bay Bridge] and the Golden Gate is way off the path, traffic can be a real pain to get to the games on time. I usually try to leave extra early and be at the park as they open the gates. Then I can watch the Mets batting practice and enjoy the ballpark atmosphere as it fills with Giants fans.
End of Month Update
The Mets went 11-17 during the month of June, nearly equal to May's record. They ended June with an overall record of 37-46, not much different than where they were last year at this time. Just as the Mets looked like they may be able to stay close to the National League East leaders, losses to Pittsburgh and Atlanta have sent them reeling. A huge lack of offence and youth on the mound (Wheeler & deGroom) has kept the Mets out of contention. Chris Young has been a major disappointment, Travis d'Arnaud seems to have taken a turn for the better after a quick stint at Triple A Las Vegas. Ruben Tejada has reemerged as the shortstop the Mets thought he could be as his bat has started to awaken. The loss of Dillon Gee for six weeks has hurt too. Now David Wright's shoulder is giving him trouble and he is out of the lineup.
Watching the Giants sweep the Mets in San Francisco was irritating. I now want to be in the middle of a crowd that wins together and losses together. Even last weekend when I went to Sacramento to see Las Vegas play the Rivercats, a bottom of the tenth rally beat the 51's and sent the home team fans happy while I watched fireworks a loser again prompting a remark from my wife. Getting to sit in the Lexus Dugout at AT&T was pretty cool, I owe my friend Steve big time for getting those up close and personal seats.
