NEW YORK -- The New York Mets have been waiting for Roger Clemens to pitch -- and bat -- at Shea Stadium ever since he beaned Mike Piazza two years ago.

	Piazza

	Clemens

It looks like they might get their chance when the New York Yankees visit in three weeks. But Mets manager Bobby Valentine is fearful that all the attention will make it hard for his team to get revenge.

''It means it will be very difficult for us to hit him in the neck because of all the buildup,'' Valentine said Saturday.

Ever since Clemens beaned Piazza on July 8, 2000, baseball fans in the city have been ready for another confrontation -- especially at Shea, where Clemens would have to come to bat.

When they met for the first time after that in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series at Yankee Stadium, Piazza shattered his bat on a foul ball and, in a bizarre turn, Clemens threw the jagged barrel in front of the Mets catcher's path.

''He's a great pitcher who won't get what most people thinks he deserves if he comes to the plate,'' Valentine said. ''So it will be disappointing to those waiting for something to happen.''

Last year, Yankees manager Joe Torre carefully configured his rotation to avoid having Clemens pitch against the Mets during their six regular-season games. This year will be different, Torre said.

Clemens is in line to pitch one of the first two games at Shea on June 14 and 15.

''We are not going to alter our rotation from keeping him from pitching at Shea,'' Torre said Friday in Boston. ''Things could change with weather or whatever, but I don't anticipate doing anything to change the rotation for that purpose. Lets put it that way.''

Piazza is 7-for-12 (.583) against Clemens in regular-season games with three homers and a double. That success led many Mets to believe that Clemens purposely hit Piazza in the game two years ago. Clemens insists he was just trying to pitch inside.

That's just what the Mets might do.

''I don't care if a ball is thrown where he has to go down,'' Valentine said. ''That's part of baseball. Roger knows that as well as anyone.''

Valentine knows that Clemens coming to Shea will be a hot topic of discussion in the city as the game gets closer. He vows not to let it distract him or his team.

''I will never answer another question about that subject from now until it's over,'' he said. ''That's how little I think about it.''