By far, the hardest part of a season for an East Coast team is that looonnngggg trip across the country to play about a week's or more worth of baseball against the teams of the NL West. It can often be a turning point of a season, as it is so tough to get through with a winning record that if you can actually accomplish a .500 west coast road swing, it can propel your team up, up, and away.
The Mets weren't given a break though, as after they play the Dodgers and Giants (the best two home teams in the NL), the Mets will visit Fenway, home to arguably the best franchise in baseball right now.
The team in the uniforms above will await the Mets tonight, as the Metropolitans start their ten game road trip, which will keep them out of Citi Field until Memorial Day (that's eleven days away) against the San Francisco Giants, who are 12-5 at AT&T Park so far in the 2009 campaign, and playing surprisingly good 18-15 ball (same record as our first place Mets).
After that four game set, it doesn't get any easier. The Mets will head down to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers, who are 14-3 at Dodger Stadium so far this season. Granted, they don't have Manny Ramirez in their lineup anymore. But they're still playing around .500 even with him out of the lineup.
The Mets pitching has been outstanding, allowing the fewest amount of runs in the league. Not just the National League. All of baseball.
Yet again, no easier. At least the Mets will be in their time zone. But the best organization is baseball will be awaiting them, and that is the Boston Red Sox, who are 13-4 at home this year.
So what should be expected? If the Mets go 3-7 on this trip, obviously the media will be going ballistic when the Mets arrive back Monday morning.
But against the three teams they will be facing, 3-7 isn't all that far fetched. I'll be happy with .500, but I want to know what you guys here at Bleacher Report think will happen on this road trip.
Will it change the Mets season? For better or for worse?
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