NEW YORK -- Imagine for a minute that John Rocker never gave that now infamous magazine interview.

This weekend's Braves-Mets series -- their first since last year's thrilling NLCS -- would still be big news with first place in the NL East on the line. It just wouldn't be a media circus.

"I don't think anybody has asked any questions about the game," said Mets third baseman Robin Ventura, who has been asked about Rocker's return to Shea Stadium for the past three days. "It's mostly been about him coming here and we're getting tired of answering it. This is an important series."

But people are more concerned about whether Rocker will ride the No. 7 train to Shea Stadium -- probably not -- than about whether New York has closed the gap with Atlanta -- it remains to be seen.

"The only time I think about him is when you guys ask about it," Ventura said. "This is a big series. I know it's not even the All-Star break yet, but these are big games."

There wouldn't be 600 police officers at Shea Stadium on Thursday night for a typical Atlanta-New York series. There wouldn't be more than 300 media members in town tracking Rocker's every move from his Manhattan hotel to Shea Stadium. There wouldn't be a protective fence and awning over the visitor's bullpen and special rules limiting alcohol sales.

And there wouldn't be all these nagging questions for the players to answer.

"We can't control the coverage of an individual," Mets catcher Mike Piazza said. "We can't worry about that. We have to face Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones. They have a pretty good ballclub. We can't worry about one guy who might or might not get into the game. If he does, we'll try to score runs off him."

As taxing as the hype about Rocker's return to New York has been to the Mets, it has weighed heavily on the Braves all season. Everywhere they go, questions about his temper, control and attitude have been prevalent. This week has been even worse.

"It's something that you just don't want to keep talking about," manager Bobby Cox said. "This has been going on too long. I guess everybody's pointing toward New York, and I guess that's when it will end. I don't know. You'd think enough's enough."

Commissioner Bud Selig hopes so.

"Distractions never help us," he said at Coors Field in Denver. "You know the sport is doing well when we talk about stuff going on on the field. I am comfortable where we are."

Selig was hesitant to say much more on Rocker.

"Since I was the judge in that case, I am a little reluctant to comment because I don't want to exacerbate the situation," he said. "I think it has been handled as well as it can be by all the parties and we need to go back to playing baseball."

"I know how desperate the Braves are to do that," he said. "What John does or doesn't do is now up to him. We have done everything that we can do and frankly, I just hope the focus is on the field."

Mets reliever Turk Wendell has armed himself with a police riot gear helmet -- "it's safe from batteries" -- and outfielder Benny Agbayani said he wouldn't feel safe if he were Rocker's teammate.

David Howard, the Mets senior vice president who is in charge of Rocker security, said the team is taking a "no-tolerance" policy toward unruly fans. Not that the Braves aren't a bit worried.

"I don't know if the other players talk about it but, yeah, that's something we've got to be concerned about," catcher Javy Lopez said.

When these two teams last left each other, Rocker was more of an amusing loud mouth who called Mets fans a "tired act" than an offensive one who insulted nearly every group in America in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Rocker was far from the most controversial figure after the teams had completed two of the most dramatic back-to-back playoff games in memory.

That honor was shared by New York's Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla, who were playing cards in the clubhouse when Kenny Rogers walked in the winning run in the 11th inning of Game 6 to send Atlanta to the World Series and end New York's dream of a Subway Series.

Bonilla, who is now with the Braves, is sure to receive a harsh greeting, but one that pales to what Rocker will likely get. Fans already started derogatory chants during Tuesday night's game against Florida, and a fan with purple hair held up a sign saying "We want the punk Rocker," during batting practice Wednesday.

"I just think people will come to look," Ventura said. "I don't see them dropping to his level where they start throwing things. Sometimes noise can be just as effective."