Coasts Clear on This Rivalry

The human equivalent of a wild pitch, he could flash across your TV screen when you least expect it.

Sitting behind home plate. Waxing a handlebar mustache. Tweaking all of Southern California.

You remember Chase Carey.

He is the Fox executive who helped lead the Dodger takeover in 1998 while publicly admitting his favorite team was actually the New York Yankees.

He is also the Fox executive who, two months later, single-handedly traded away Mike Piazza shortly before Piazza became the leader of the New York Mets.

Yankees . . . Mets . . . hmmm . . . if Carey does attend this World Series, he will surely watch it with a smile.

Which means most Southland folks won’t.

Welcome to the Subterfuge Series, at least if you are a Dodger fan, a number growing smaller by the transaction.

It might be difficult to applaud everything these two splendid teams possess without being reminded of everything you don’t.

The sight of new heroes could be diluted by the feeling they are running around in your old clothes.

Wait a minute, you might want to shout. That belonged to me!

It is perhaps petty, not to mention parochial, to view a national event through a narrow lens. But before beginning a weeklong baseball celebration, those who unwillingly contributed to that celebration deserve at least a moment to grieve.

The Dodgers had Mike Piazza.

Now the Mets do, and every Joe from Queens says he is the main reason they are here.

The Dodgers had pitching coach Dave Wallace.

Now the Mets do, and his effect on their standout pitching staff has been as overwhelming as subway stink.

The Dodgers had Todd Zeile.

Now the Mets do, and although he still isn’t tough enough to catch a foul ball in the Shea Stadium bleachers, he is cool enough to hit a ball there when it matters.

The Dodgers had reliever Dennis Cook and utility guy Lenny Harris.

Now the Mets do, and either could come out of the shadows and own a town.

The Dodgers had infielder Jose Vizcaino.

Now the Yankees do, and aren’t we glad they gave us Jim Leyritz.

The Dodgers had Willie Randolph.

Now the Yankees do, and although the Dodgers could make this perfect apprentice their next manager, they don’t know him anymore, so they won’t.

Some might see Met Manager Bobby Valentine, who has finally grown up, and wonder if that couldn’t have happened in an organization with his father figure, Tom Lasorda.

Others might see Met reliever Armando Benitez, and think of Todd Hundley or Charles Johnson. Heaven help those poor tortured souls.

Not all of these bad memories are Fox’s responsibilities. As many, if not more, date back to the O’Malley regime.

And, to be fair to all parties, some can be blamed on the constant tug between two distant poles trying to hold up the same tent. The rivalry between the country’s two largest cities, after all, extends beyond the occasional World Series or NBA championship.

One of us always seems to be dumping on or stealing from the other.

They bombed us with Reggie. We bewitched them with Fernando.

They made us weep with Willis. We made them beg with Wilt.

They sold us Joe Namath. We got revenge with Flipper Anderson.

They gave us Darryl Strawberry. It took us a while, but we might finally have paid them back with Glen Rice.

Of course, we thought we had pulled the biggest heist of all by taking the Dodgers.

Then, 40 years later, they give us Fox.

When the media conglomerate purchased the team, although Carey and fellow boss Peter Chernin lived in Los Angeles, the company’s heart was in New York.

That’s where one would call for interviews with Dodger officials, and try explaining that long-distance charge to your boss. That’s where Fox folks always seemed to go for meetings. Those were the newspapers they would use for their planted scoops.

Although Carey’s representatives did not answer a request for an interview for this story, much of the company must certainly be thrilled that two “hometown” teams are playing for the world championship.

But this is where L.A. gets them back.

Because they’re not going to be thrilled with the results.

A Subway Series is going to cost Fox money. Unless the series goes seven games, the ratings for the Fox-televised event will be as shaky as Roger Clemens walking into Shea Stadium.

One of the great things about the World Series is that it is a battle of national neighborhoods, but this one is taking place in the same house.

That means all but New Yorkers are outsiders. And although the outsiders might initially peer through the window to check out the fuss, one wonders if they will hang around very long before feeling like voyeurs watching something that is none of their business.

“My guess is, the numbers will be at the low end of expectations,” said TV consultant Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports. “This is not ideal from a network perspective. It’s better to have rivalries from different parts of the country.”

Pilson added, “To have a World Series between the top two markets in the country, now that is something you would want to see.”

In other words, Fox needs--gasp!--the Dodgers.

After agreeing to spend $2.5 billion to televise all postseason baseball in the next six years--more than they pay even Devon White--Fox really needs the Dodgers.

“I can’t see Fox neglecting or sabotaging the Dodgers,” Pilson said. “They have great incentive to get it right.”

The bosses at Fox sure have a funny way of showing it. First, they made one of the most demoralizing trades in Dodger history, even if Gary Sheffield hits 40 homers every season here. Now, despite an admirable annual payroll of nearly $100 million, they are allowing--even supporting?--a demoralizing front office as it wastes that money.

So maybe, Chase Carey won’t be watching these games entirely with a smile. Maybe when Mike Piazza doubles, he will kick himself. Maybe when the Mets win the Series in five games, Carey will call somebody and order him to kick Bob Daly.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.