I had the opportunity today to meet with Robbi Goldberg, a West Hampton Mets fan and artist who brought the boys of the 2000 Mets team to life. I had the privilege of interviewing Goldberg, who was showing her Mets collection at the Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, NY today. Goldberg has seen some of the most amazing games of the 2000 season, and while she says its hard to choose a favorite, it’s the memory of the concrete spirals at Shea shaking after Benny Agbayani’s 13th inning home run in Game 7 of the NLDS that sticks out in her mind. Goldberg attended all of the playoff and World Series games at Shea in 2000 and also recalls being at Tom Seaver’s 19 strike-out game.

While Goldberg has never been officially recognized by the Mets organization, her and her work have been written up in several newspapers. She has never met, or had the desire to meet, any of the players. She was very clear about respecting their personal lives, but she would love to be able to show them the paintings she has done. Goldberg spent 10 days in Port St. Lucie during the spring of 2000 and snapped photos of the players that would serve as her guide for the paintings. Most of the paintings are of the players relaxing, not in mid-throw or swing. Completing nearly 50 portraits during the 2000 season, Goldberg added one more painting to her collection for this month’s show. After visiting spring training this year, a portrait of David Wright now hangs next to those immortal players.

Goldberg revealed that it was total chance that she decided to do the paintings of the 2000 team. She had no idea, no gut feeling that they would be in the World Series later that year. Maybe this painting of Wright will serve as a good luck charm to help the Mets to another World Series chance. Goldberg told the story of how her parents were at Game 7 of the 1969 World Series and were given a piece of that was ripped up after the game, which they took home and planted in their back yard.

It is very evident that Goldberg is very passionate about the Mets. Looking at her work, you are transported back to that wonderful summer. Her works will be on display from now until April 30th at the Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, NY, at which point they will be moved to the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack, NY. I strongly recommend taking the chance to view her works, you will be not be disappointed.

.

Robbi Goldberg next to her favorite painting, Rey Ordonez. This painting is part of her series “Leaning on Their Bats”.

Mike Hampton was scratched from what would be his first start since 2005. No word yet on the why, but its safe to assume he’s done till 2009. Hampton has been out since an elbow injury in August of 2005, and at one point was both healthy and a Met, where he was the 2000 NLCS MVP. Ah, remember than Mike?

Somewhere, Kerry Wood is nervous.  

Ken Davidoff on his blog for Newsday runs down an All-Star team of players who the media loves to talk to.

Many Mets and ex-Mets are mentioned, including Todd Zeile, Mike Piazza, Tom Glavine, Billy Wagner, and David Cone.

This and the recent interview by Mets By The Numbers with Marty Noble are my favorite type of articles from beat writers. Its always interesting to pull back the curtain a little and know what the writers think about the players.

New York Times blog ‘The Lede‘ gathers up some commentary around Mets blog, such as Metstradamus, Yes Joe It’s Toasted, and Mets Blog regarding if the 2000 Yankees title is tarnished in light of recent developments.

I don’t seriously believe that they should be stripped of the title but its certainly fun to annoy Yankee fans about it.

As I watched the Mets 10 Run 8th Inning game last night on SNY’s Mets Classics, I couldn’t help to think how amazing it is that a team that had Derek Bell in right field and Jay Payton in center wound up going to the World Series.

It occurred to me that perhaps we have become too misguided as fans and feel that the Mets need to assemble an All-Star team every year in order to win. This 2000 team was not all that impressive on paper, but somehow they had the will to win and it propelled them to the first Mets World Series in 14 years.

I then realized, even if the Mets were not to land that ace they have been looking for all winter they could still win if they truly wanted to. This 2008 team blows the 2000 team away on paper. The Mets don’t necessarily need an upgrade in personnel, they simply need to find that certain something that that 2000 team had.

Its hard to put your finger on it, but I suppose it could best be described as getting the most out of what you have. Bobby Valentine might have had something to do with it. Lets hope that Willie Randolph can tap into that same idea.

The 2000 Mets should be the model for what the 2008 Mets should strive to be, but this time, I would love to see them beat the Yankees in the World Series.