Sure, it’s only June, I’ve often said the baseball season is similar to reading a good book, you never know what is going to happen next, every day of the season is like reading another chapter.

One never knows how it will end, but one does know it is going to be a one heckuva good story.

Monday’s openers of the three crucial mid season series provided more grist for the mill.

Game two is tonight. Who has the pressure? Is there pressure on the Monday night losers?The most important aspect of analyzing Monday’s games lies in the reasons underneath why the winners won or the losers lost.

The A’s wanted to make a statement in Seattle. They accomplished their goal by the end of the third inning when they had a 10-1 lead over Freddy Garcia.

Dave Heaverlo, former major league pitcher, now a talk show host in Washington, told me on Right Off The Bat that Garcia is not the ace of the staff, but that Jamie Moyer is because he has more composure and better command of his stuff.

Heaverlo was a prophet as Garcia struggled with his control from the first batter he faced Monday night. Lou Piniella didn’t want to burn his bull pen in the first game of this important series, so he left Garcia in the game to absorb a ten run pounding.

This game also pointed out the fact that Seattle is hurting right now. Bret Boone was a late scratch, sitting on the bench for the game, so was Edgar Martinez and Mark McLemore.

I’ve said many times that Seattle is not the team it was last year because of injuries to the pitchers and hitters. The infield defense is not turning double plays with the same regularity they turned them last season. One of the Seattle coaches pointed that out to me when the Mariners were in Oakland during early June.

Meanwhile, the A’s hit and do all the little things that contribute to a winning ball club. Their plate discipline is much improved. They are hitting their pitch instead of the pitchers pitch. They are getting their walks.

Miguel Tejada has filled the third spot in the batting order better than anyone could ever imagine. He is having his best year in the big leagues.

Cory Lidle worked slowly, but exhibited a better cutter tonight, continuously throwing the ball on the hands of the Seattle hitters.

The A’s showed they can beat an ace. That is a big deal. Seattle showed how vulnerable they are at this point of the season.

Key words: At this point of the season.

Oakland now has their attention in Seattle’s backyard.

16 wins in 17 games will do that to any team.

Tuesday night Tim Hudson has a chance to put the A’s in a position to do some real damage to the Mariners this week. He is opposed by James Baldwin who must pitch deep into the game.

Shigetosi Hasegawa will be ready after the sixth inning or so, but Oakland could have the game in hand by then.

The pressure is on a depleted Mariner team to snap back in game two or face the prospect of losing this four game series.

One game does not a series make, but the A’s will gladly take the first one.

Minnesota exploited the White Sox bull pen coming from behind to win at home 5-4 stretching their lead in the AL Central to 7 games.

The Twins pen shut the Sox down allowing the Twins to get back into the game. Torii Hunter homered, he is an MVP candidate, to tie the game, then Jacques Jones and Luis Rivas won it in the eighth.

Eddie Guardado and LaTroy Hawkins were better than the White Sox hitters Monday night.

The pressure is on the Sox to win Tuesday because their best pitcher is on the mound. Mark Buehrle is a lefthander and Minnesoata sees kryptonite when a lefty pitches against them.

If Minnesota gets by Buehrle, then they may sweep the series.

This series points up a major difference between these two teams. Minnesota has a solid deep bull pen, Chicago does not and it cost the Sox in game one.

Eric Milton suffered a heel bruise in his last start, the win Monday night takes the pressure off Milton in case he is not in top form.

Minnesota needed game one, they got it, and broke the Sox’ early game momentum with their come from behind win at home.

The Sox better be careful not to let Tuesday’s game slip away because they aren’t showing any signs of being a team that will right the ship very soon.

Eight back in June is not disaster, but then again it’s nothing to ignore either.

The Mets fought back against Atlanta only to see Keith Lockhart win the game 3-2 with a homer in the ninth inning.

Al Leiter pitched well, so did Kevin Millwood. I call this one a draw.

Tuesday night the Mets have another chance to gain a game on the Braves as Atlanta will be forced to throw Albie Lopez in place of injured Greg Maddux. With a large lead in the division, there is no reason to risk further injury to Maddux’ calf.

Steve Trachsel has pitched well for New York and is capable of slowing down the Braves.

Best news for the Mets is Jeromy Burnitz continued his batting revival with a homer.

There is some pressure on the Mets to win game two, but it isn’t do or die yet because the Met team is capable of playing better baseball over the next three months.

Whether they do or not is up to the fate of baseball, but they are capable which is more than you can say for many teams.

One last thought. Bruce Bochy manager of the Padres saw Barry Bonds hit one 600 feet during the Giants last visit to San Diego. With a 6-3 lead, two on in the seventh Bochy decided to have Jeremy Fikac challenge Bonds low and away, Bonds hit the ball on a line over the left field fence tying the score 6-6.

Now, cut to the ninth inning. Trevor Hoffman on the mound. No one on base, Bonds up 6-6 game.

Need I say more. One pitch, inside corner, Bonds turns on the ball, home run, Giants win 7-6.

I said this two months ago. You cannot ever pitch to Barry Bonds with the game on the line and Jeff Kent up next.

Managers try it time after time and get burned. It’s not popular to walk Bonds, but unless Babe Ruth is hitting next, it is the only sensible move.

The Angels stumbled against the red hot Rangers losing a doubleheader in Arlington. Not a good time to slump with the A’s and the Mariners possibly trading wins in Seattle.

Red Sox and Yankees are playing cupcakes again this week. If they aren’t careful Baltimore and Cleveland may help knock one of them out of the wild card lead by the end of interleague play this Sunday.

All this and it’s only Tuesday.