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The first edition of the 2008 Subway Series begins Friday at Yankee Stadium.
With that in mind, here's a look back at some of the more memorable moments since the series began in 1997. Click on the picture to view the full gallery.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
What people are talking about this morning ...
Want to speak your mind about the big issues in the world of sports? Here's your chance!
 TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
How do you feel about the hiring of Mike D'Antoni?
Post your thoughts in the comments section below and tune in to MSG, NY to see if your response is featured.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
Can the Mets continue their dominance over the Nationals? Will the weather be a blessing or a curse? What roster moves need to be made to create room for Matt Wise? How do things happening behind-the-scenes and off-the-field impact the team?
External Factor No. 1: Will the weather create or eliminate a rotation issue?
Thanks to Friday's rainout, the Mets were forced to use both Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey in a day-night doubleheader Saturday, creating a hole in the rotation for Wednesday night's game. And according to weather.com, the forecast in Flushing calls for rain throughout the afternoon today.
The Mets can either use Pelfrey on short rest or pull Jorge Sosa or Aaron Heilman out of the bullpen for a spot start -- none of which are ideal moves.
As Mike Puma of the New York Post writes: "A postponement tonight not only would allow the rotation to fall back into place, it would let Santana pitch Friday in the Subway Series opener against the Yankees."
Break out those drums, Mets fans, it's time to do a rain dance.
External Factor No. 2: End of the road.
Matt Wise is ready to be activated from the disabled list, and for Joe Smith -- the only reliever in the Mets' bullpen with options left -- that means a demotion back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Over on the MSG.com message boards, Mets fan deadlyegg is up in arms over the likely move: "Smith should be here. The only run he allowed to score was on a broken bat base hit, not grand slams like Sosa gives up. All the talk about making the pen stronger will be weakened by that thirty something, or should I say next to nothing."
Is taking Smith out of the mix really an effective baseball decision, or is it purely a financial matter? Only the Mets' front office knows for sure.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
The New York Knicks have agreed in principle with Mike D'Antoni to become the next head coach of the team. A press conference will be scheduled upon the completion of the contract.
Here are the reactions to the move across the web:
Did Willie Randolph really say the Mets enjoy playing on the road better than at home? Is John Maine the real deal? How do things happening behind-the-scenes and off-the-field impact the team?
External Factor No. 1: David Wright is the key to the Mets' offense staying hot.
Amazin's Awake From Lumber Slumber. Jolly Wood. Mets Deck Dodgers in Los Angeles. Mets Bats Pound Penny.
 Despite the euphoric headlines, the Mets' offense can't continue on this pace until the key cog in the lineup, David Wright, is performing consistently.
"I can't do what I've been doing, which is to ride that emotional roller coaster where I'm living and dying with every at-bat," Wright said.
And over at the MSG.com message boards, Mets fan WrightNReyes says,"Wright is either on fire or ice cold. There is no middle."
If Wright can feed off the good vibrations from Wednesday's win in La-La land, the Mets should finally be able to give the hometown crowd something to cheer about in their three-game set vs. Cincinnati.
But if Wright plays more like Robin and less like Batman, then the good vibrations could turn into sour notes at Shea.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
What people are talking about this morning ...
What people are talking about this morning ...
Here are the top stories on the wires tonight ...
Afraid? Am I afraid of defamation lawsuits? Ha! I laugh in the face of potentially damaging, life-changing suits. And for that reason, against my better judgment, I am back to talk a little Roger Clemens.
 After several horrible accusations, including one that was confirmed, Clemens finally decided to address the hysteria earlier this week.
And in a statement first published by the Houston Chronicle, he acknowledged some personal mistakes, but continued to defend himself as best as he possibly could. "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right," Clemens said.
That final line is the understatement of the year, is it not?
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner went on to scrutinize the reports about his and Mindy McCready's relationship, claiming that "nothing could be further from the truth."
Nothing could be further from the truth? Really? Because when McCready said "I cannot refute anything in the story," I could have sworn that means the reports were accurate. Why else would a has-been country star agree to something that could not possibly benefit her in any way?
Does anyone else see that brown stuff Clemens is stepping in? It sure is getting pretty deep.
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When you boo a player, can he hear you? And if so, does that affect his game? How do things happening behind-the-scenes and off-the-field impact the team?
At the start of each Mets series, I'll be breaking down the External Factors that could distract or enhance the Mets' play, potentially affecting the outcome of the games.
External Factor No. 1: Student (Willie Randolph) vs. Teacher (Joe Torre)
 Since Willie became a manager in 2005, he and Joe have split the Subway Series 3-3 each year. By the numbers, they're evenly matched, but Joe's near the end of his managing career while Willie's at the beginning.
When the Mets visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for three games, the master and apprentice will pit their managerial skills against each other in National League play. Can Willie take what he's learned and use it to surpass his master?
Regardless of fans' speculation about who should replace Willie, the man has shown he can go toe-to-toe with the elite. "You always want to test yourself against the best competition around," Randolph said. "And I think that makes us better, too, when we have to go up against the best."
External Factor No. 2: Clubhouse Chemistry
 Over at the MSG.com message boards, fans are still talking about Billy Wagner publicly ripping Oliver Perez.
The latest comes from redraider: "Billy needs to shut his mouth when it comes to naming names. He gets an 'F' from me, and should get five knuckles from Oliver, for mentioning Perez by name."
Willie Randolph met with Wagner over the weekend to nip the potentially divisive issue in the bud. Randolph, who played for the famously bickering "Bronx Zoo" Yankees of the late 1970s, has been criticized for running a humorless, robotic clubhouse. But if you listen to Randolph, that seems to be how he likes it.
"[Wagner] can respond however he wants, but I just told him I thought it was something that should have been kept in-house," Randolph said. "That's how I do business."
-- Bart Hubbuch, New York Post
Keep an eye on Wagner, this isn't the first time he's called out teammates. If it happens again, this could get ugly.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
When you boo a player, can he hear you? And if so, does that affect his game? How do things happening behind-the-scenes and off-the-field impact the team?
At the start of each Mets series, I'll be breaking down the External Factors that could distract or enhance the Mets' play, potentially affecting the outcome of the games.
External Factor No. 1: The Mets have owned the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
 The Mets need a shot in the arm, following Wednesday afternoon's sloppy, double-digit loss to the Pirates, and playing in a park where they've gone 13-1 since May 12, 2004 should do the trick. But it's not going to be easy, given the Diamondbacks' MLB-best record and young players who've gotten better since the Mets last faced them in June 2007.
Billy Wagner knows the Mets can ill-afford to underestimate Arizona this weekend if they want to turn the tide and assert themselves as the team to beat in the NL East. "It can get a whole lot uglier if we come out there and play those guys in Arizona like we played [Wednesday]," the Mets' veteran closer said. "We have to show up. History isn't good for anything but reading history."
External Factor No. 2: Team swagger nowhere to be found, and the fans know it.
Ever since their historic collapse began late last September, the Mets' confidence has been like Roger Clemens' Hall of Fame legacy ... gone in a flash.
 Watching the games, you get the feeling that they don't want to win bad enough. They're making mistakes of effort, not skill. Take the second inning of Wednesday's game, when the Mets got Ryan Doumit into a rundown between first and second. Where was Jose Reyes when the play switched directions? "When I try to go to second base, it's kind of late for me."
To that end, Mets fan klynch started a "Fire Willie" thread on the MSG.com message board. To be fair, klynch has also called out David Wright to be more of a leader, pleaded for Oliver Perez's ouster and questioned how the Mets can keep losing to mediocre teams.
But interestingly, mrmustseetv isn't worried about the Mets' slow start and can even understand why the team has been irked by the fans. "Geez, who ever heard of firing a manager when his team is tied for first in the loss columns. Good grief. No wonder the Mets players are irked at the fans. Relax guys. We're tied for first."
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What people are talking about this morning ...
What people are talking about this morning ...
- Hard-throwing right-hander Max Scherzer wasted no time in earning a spot in the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation. The 23-year-old has been tabbed as this year's Joba Chamberlain.
- The BCS rejected a plan to turn the much-criticized system for deciding a national champ into a four-team playoff, starting in the 2010 season.
With the first month of the MLB season in the bag, it's time to take a look at the highs and lows experienced by the Mets and Yankees.
Click on each picture to view the photo galleries.
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What people are talking about this morning ...
- The Mets' bullpen blew the save for Johan Santana, but David Wright saved the day with a game-winning single in the 11th inning of a 5-4 win against Pittsburgh Tuesday.
MetsBlog asks how confident you are in the overall future direction of the Mets.
- After going on the disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in the rotator cuff and a biceps tendon in his pitching arm, John Smoltz said it's possible he would return to the closer role where he dominated during the 2002-04 seasons. (AJC)
- The Olympic torch returned to Chinese soil Wednesday after a turbulent 20-nation tour, landing in the bustling financial capital of Hong Kong where officials deported at least seven activists before the flame's arrival.
Here are the top stories on the wires tonight ...
- Joba Chamberlain's father Harlan has been discharged from a Lincoln hospital and is recovering at home.
- Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with an ailing right shoulder, though the Braves were told he can get over the problem without surgery.
- Ronaldo went into hiding Tuesday after a run-in with cross-dressing prostitutes that prompted police to investigate whether to charge one with trying to extort money from the striker.
- Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin are the three finalists for the Hart Trophy that is awarded to the NHL's most valuable player.
- The captain of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was charged with indecent exposure after a police officer saw him running naked on a downtown street early Sunday, and a teammate was arrested for public drunkenness.
What people are talking about this morning ...
- Carlos Delgado defended his decision to not take a curtain call after his second home run in the Mets' win over Atlanta Sunday.
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Phil Hughes became the latest Yankee to join the walking wounded after he was 
Phil Hughes' 
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Alex Rodriguez