Remember when NC State won the '83 NCAA Tournament on that alley-oop put-back at the buzzer, prompting a crazed Jim Valvano to run around the court with his arms flailing, looking for someone to hug?

That was me this afternoon at the 69th street OTB.

I won't get into the specifics, but Society Selection -- the horse I bet -- just turned my OTB ticket into a round-trip plane ticket to Vegas..... and then some.

Biggest bet I've ever made in my life, and I've decided it's OK, because it was for a worthy cause: My friend Elvin's having his birthday party at Vegas next month, and according to ancient Filipino custom, I'm obligated to be there for him. Because he's a friend.

And since I have to go, I mean, it only makes sense that I bring a decent bankroll to play with, as well, right?

Yeah, of course.

So this bet wasn't just a smart bet, it was a necessary bet. It was darn near a mandatory bet.

I'm Troy McClure. You may remember me from such films as, "It's OK To Rationalize Gambling," and "I Bet, Therefore I Am".

YOU GOTTA BELIEVE?
So, like, am I supposed to be afraid of the Mets now because they added Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano to their rotation?

Is it odd that I'm not the least bit afraid?

Am I supposed to believe the Mets are gonna make up a 7-game deficit in the final two months, because they added Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano to their rotation?

Is it odd that I've already crossed the Mets off my list of teams to worry about?

They added Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano -- whoopy freakin doo. They added a starting pitcher who hasn't been anything but generic for the last five years and another starting pitcher who makes Russ Ortiz's walk-rate look like Curt Schilling's.

Yawn.

Get it straight, Mets fans: You're not catching Atlanta. Help is not on the way. In fact, you traded that help away to Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Yeah, the Mets -- a team that's seven games out on July 31 -- traded away their five best prospects, their future (including Scott Kazmir!), for two months of Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano.

Clap, clap, clap.

If I need suspense, I'll watch Smallville. The Mets sure as hell aren't gonna be supplying it.

KUDOS TO DEPO
Harold Reynolds on the Dodgers trading away Guillermo Mota:
"You gotta get to Gagne. That's the key to baseball, is that you gotta get to the closer, and now the Dodgers have lost their main set-up guy in Mota."

Umm..... don't you also need to get to the set-up man before you get to the closer?

What's the complaint here? The Dodgers traded away a one-inning reliever for a starter, who'll probably slide in as the team's #1 starter. Sure, relievers serve an important role in baseball, but if I'm Paul Depodesta and I have a deal on the table to get a good starter for a good reliever, I'm pulling the trigger without thinking twice about it.

If there's anything baseball's taught us the last few seasons, it's that middle relievers are the most easily replaceable players on the roster.

Intangibles, clubhouse presence, and "gritty-veteranism" aside, I think this trade is a huge victory for LA. They made significant upgrades to both their offense and their rotation by bringing in three guys who should be a lot more productive on the field -- the field, as in where games are won.

To all you Paul "Heart and Soul of the Team" Lo Duca fans out there, the last I heard, you don't win games in the clubhouse.

And need you be reminded.....

Lo Duca's Pre/Post All-Star Splits, 2001-2003
Pre: .314/.373/.485
Post: .255/.308/.375

RANDOM..... UMM, STUFF
--May 12, June 19, July 21 are the only three days this season that Barry Bonds has not reached base.

--Although their offense comprises Bonds and eight Joe Blows, the Giants have actually scored the third most runs in the National League.

--Bonds's OPS (1.379) is 305 points higher than that of Todd Helton, who has the second best OPS in the majors (1.074). That difference is greater than the one between Helton and Royce Clayton.

--Vinny Castilla's Coors/Road splits
Coors (209 PA): .364/.423/.695
Road (195 PA): .201/.264/.436

--Base stealers at/above 75% success rate (minimum 15 attempts)
1. Dave Roberts: 32 for 33 (97.0%)
2. Bobby Abreu: 26 for 27 (96.3%)
3. Lew Ford: 13 for 14 (93.0%)
4. Reggie Sanders: 14 for 16 (87.5%)
5. Jeff Davanon: 13 for 15 (86.7%)
6. Alex Rodriguez: 19 for 22 (86.4%)
7. Carlos Beltran: 19 for 22 (86.4%)
8. Scott Podsednik: 41 for 48 (85.4%)
9. Tony Womack: 16 for 19 (84.2%)
10. Jimmy Rollins: 19 for 23 (82.6%)
11. Mike Cameron: 13 for 16 (81.3%)
12. Kazuo Matsui: 13 for 16 (81.3%)
13. Orlando Cabrera: 12 for 15 (80%)
14. Julio Lugo: 12 for 15 (80%)
15. Endy Chavez: 15 for 19 (79.0%)
16. Carl Crawford: 43 for 55 (78.1%)
17. Ichiro Suzuki: 26 for 34 (76.5%)
18. Corey Patterson: 13 for 17 (76.5%)
19. Brian Roberts: 25 for 33 (75.8%)
20. Johnny Damon: 12 for 16 (75.0%)
21. Torii Hunter: 12 for 16 (75.0%)

Notable base stealers below 75%
Cesar Izturis: 16 for 24 (66.7%)
Juan Pierre: 26 for 41 (63.4%)
Alex Sanchez: 18 for 30 (60%)