June is the month when the baseball races start to come into focus.

I recall the phrase “June Swoon” first describing a faltering Giants team in the late 50’s.

Then each year the writers would bring it up as soon as the Giants had a June losing streak.

Today, the “June Swoon ” is feared by every major league team. I think I know why.

June separates the fake early season contenders from the solid teams. You can see it happening as the month unfolds.

When June ends, three months of the season is gone, about 80 games.

You know where you stand.

Are the Giants due for a “June Swoon?” How about the A’s? Is it too early to tell whether June will be kind to the Cincinnati Reds? Are the White Sox fading in the first definitive month of the season?

Here’s what I think.The Giants veterans are not panicked and are ready for the month.

In June, pitchers are either getting into a nice groove or the hitters are catching up with their fastballs.

Jason Schmidt and Russ Ortiz look like they a have the arms right now to prevent any catastrophic losing streak for the Giants.

The Giants pitching is still ahead of the opponents hitting.

Benito Santiago, Jeff Kent, and Rich Aurilia should give Barry Bonds enough support to carry the offense this month.

The real test for the Giants will come in July and August when the veterans will have to show they have what it takes to make it through the marathon.

The Dodgers will be tested this month. Andy Ashby’s surgically repaired arm, Ishii’s curve ball, Odalis Perez’ fastball, and Eric Gagne’s slider, all will be tested as the Dodgers make another trip around the league.

Interleague play helps many of these teams since the opposing teams will not have seen most of the opposition players before this month.

This schedule could give the Dodgers another month’s grace until the NL figures them out.

June is a month where rotation pitchers will hit around 115 innings for the season. Batters will reach 275 at bats.

These numbers become defining lines in determining what kind of summer is ahead.

The A’s are still looking for their identity as a team.

Is the pitching rotation set? Probably not.

Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Cory Lidle have yet to hit their stride.

Miguel Tejada has settled into the number three spot in the batting order, but all the other slots in the order are up for grabs.

June could be a cruel month for the A’s if the pitching continues to be inconsistent and the offense doesn’t hit with consistent authority.

Terrence Long, Ramon Hernandez, and David Justice need to emerge from their sporadic first two months, to make the offense productive enough to stay within striking distance of the lead.

Eight games against the Mariners don’t help the situation if the A’s pitching and offense are still in a state of flux.

I see June as a more difficult month for the A’s than the Giants.

With only two off days in the month, the Giants pitching is set up better than the Athletics for the next thirty days.

The Angels will not swoon in June. They are hitting enough to stay in most games, but the rotation looks like it may be for real.

Heading into June, Ramon Ortiz (72.6 innings), Kevin Appier (67 innings), Aaron Sele (66.3 innings), Jarrod Washburn (68.3 innings), and Scott Schoenweiss (63 innings) are setting a pace of over 200 innnings pitched per man for the season.

Anaheim has the signs I like to see for a summer push.

June will be kind to the Angels. Their test will come in August to see if the starters are still holding up. If they are, Seattle better be careful.

The White Sox are in trouble this month. Other than Mark Buerhle no other pitcher has shown any cocnsistency. A bad sign combined with the unrest in the clubhouse. Frank Thomas is not producing with any regularity.

I see trouble in June for Chicago, but a comeback behind their offense in July and mid August, then big trouble down the stretch unless they obtain some pitching help.

Cincinnati is due for their fall this month. The rotating sub system caused by the return of Ken Griffey, Jr will sap the team of the offensive momentum it had earlier in the year.

The Reds need pitching. June is a bad time to not have enough on the mound.

The Cubs will have a better month because their offense is starting to breathe. Occasionally, there is a Fred McGriff and Moises Alou sighting in Wrigley Field.

Believe me when I say this Cub pitching rotation will begin to dominate with fewer off days. They are similar to the Angels, but with more offensive holes.

If the Cubs could ever get their bull pen, especially the middle relief together, they will get back into the race.

Look for a good month from the Cubs.

The Red Sox and the Yankees may have interesting months. It is unlikely that Derek Lowe will continue to put up Cy Young type numbers. Darren Oliver is starting to crumble.

The Yankees have injuries. They have to be concerned about El Duque and Andy Pettitte.

Don’t expect to see either team break away in the AL East this month.

The “June Swoon” is out there.

Just watch and see who it grabs.