The Subway Series: Is This Crosstown Rivalry One-Sided?

The bat crackles with solid, powerful contact, propelling it deep into the October night.  New York Mets' catcher Mike Piazza gazed it down with a stature of confidence, hoping he got enough.  The best closer in history, Mariano Rivera, spun to catch its speedy flight into deep center field.  All eyes in New York were on that ball, but the most important pair were that of Yankees' center fielder Bernie Williams, who watched it right into his glove, capping the Bombers' third straight world championship.  

The 2000 World Series, dubbed "The Subway Series," was a thrilling matchup between New York's beloved baseball teams, ultimately dominated by the Yankees, who took the series in five games. The classic propelled their crosstown, home-away face-off into the most popular interleague series on the schedule.

But has it lived up to the hype?

Over the past decade, the series has definitely provided many great games and memorable moments.  Mariano Rivera's 500th save was recorded in newly built Citi Field, a feat launching him toward the all-time mark held by Trevor Hoffman at 601.

And who can forget Mets scapegoat Luis Castillo, who stood under an easy Alex Rodriguez pop up as closer Francisco Rodriguez held his head in joy, thinking he got out of the jam and saved the game.  What he didn't know was that Castillo had bigger, more horrifying plans for him, as he watched the ball land in his glove, but tumble (eternally for Mets fans) to the ground.  To make matters worse, baserunners Derek Jeter and Mark Teixiera were motoring around the bases the entire time, so not only did the tying run score, but the winning run as well.

What is missing in the quick glances at the past 10 years of the Subway Series seems to be the good moments for the Mets.  There has to be some, but the absence of glory could be reflective upon the team's decade as a whole.

After 2000, the Mets lulled into mediocrity until fiery manager and New York-beloved Willie Randolph took the helm.  Within two seasons he had them on the brink of another World Series appearance.  Everything was set up: Game 7 at home, an unforgettable, home-run-saving catch and the walk-off euphoria on the horizon.  Then, like a slap in the face, Yadier Molina sent the Mets directly back into the doldrums of failure.

For the next three seasons, the Mets had a chance to take the National League East.  Better yet, they had the division in the bag two of the seasons, but handed it to the Phillies on platters of all sorts of rare metals.

This prompted the firing of Randolph, which led to a clubhouse arrest, rumored to be fueled on effort and racial premise.  Now, with another new skipper, and an ownership teetering on losing their team, the Mets are back to climbing the neverending slope to the promised land.

At the top of that slope is the Yankees.  Though in the years since their World Series clash, the Bronx Bombers have only claimed one championship, their status in New York has been miles ahead of the Mets.  Their signings, many blunders like the Mets, have been replaced by pure genius moves, unlike the Mets moves that have remained at the bottom.

The Yankees have owned the back page in New York, and every Subway Series is feeling more and more like a one-way battle to get it back.  Mets fans leave the comments, proclaim what they can do to take the season series and hope.  Since their first meeting in 1997, however, the Yankees have taken 11 of 14.  

Only one thing can definitively make this rivalry a two-way slugfest to take over the city.  The Mets must win a title.  It would obviously be more satisfying if they took down the Evil Empire in doing so, but any World Series ring will do.

Then, with recent championships on both sides of town, the teams, their iconic players and their tremendous fan bases can square off in a truly epic rivalry.  Until then, the Yankees will keep beating on the Mets on the field, in the newspaper and in the backyards of rival fans across New York.