John Maine - Only 752 HR's Behind The Sultan Of Surly  —  Since posting an actual clip from the Mets' 8-4 win over the Pirates will undoubtedly result in harsh action from MLB Advanced Media, you'll have to settle for the above bit of trickeration instead.  —  Perhaps preempting …

Brewers send 3 players to Padres for reliever Linebrink  —  CINCINNATI (AP) -In turnabout in trade philosophy, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres for three minor league pitchers on Wednesday, hoping to bolster their unexpected run at the playoffs.

Outspoken Schilling calls out Bonds, McGwire  —  NEW YORK — Curt Schilling says that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire's refusals to address accusations of steroids use are tantamount to admissions.  —  "If someone wrote that stuff about me and I didn't sue their [butt] off …

Just like his average, Crisp movin' on up  —  CLEVELAND — Back when Coco Crisp was mired in a deep slump, he didn't mind taking breaks from the questions of the media horde.  But, he joked with a reporter, he would be more than happy to talk on the record once he was hitting well enough to be placed in the cleanup spot.

Another Pitcher Hurt, And Nats Feel the Pain  —  Pitchers aren't used to sprinting across the skin of the infield, planting their foot on a base and sucking it up for 90 more feet.  "Everybody here is an athlete," Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta said Tuesday night.

Coroner: Hemorrhage killed Coolbaugh  —  Blood vessel burst in neck of Tulsa's Coolbaugh  —  NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A preliminary autopsy report shows that a burst blood vessel in Mike Coolbaugh's neck, near his brain, killed the Tulsa Drillers hitting coach when he was hit by a batted ball on Sunday.

Sox scouting Vegas  —  Red Sox special assistant Allard Baird has been scouting the Las Vegas 51s, the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A affiliate.  Baird was recently in Tacoma watching he 51s which are a talented team.  —  The Sox have always liked third baseman Andy LaRoche …

Disputed home run triggers rout  —  PHOENIX — It wasn't exactly Jeffrey Maier in the 1996 playoffs or Steve Bartman in the 2003 playoffs.  But the Marlins were left to wonder what might have been if umpires had called fan interference on a home run that sparked Arizona's 9-3 win Tuesday.

Five and Fly: Selig pulls up a chair  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Bud Selig sat in a private box above and behind home plate Tuesday night at AT&T Park, the defining moment of his tenure as commissioner due to arrive any day, any at-bat.  —  He seemed OK with it, or as OK as he could be.  He was here.

Wednesday Update  — Detroit feels that adding another late-inning reliever is the last piece to its puzzle, which is why the Tigers have been scouting Texas closer Eric Gagne.  However, the Tigers are one of the teams Gagne can block in a potential trade to as part of the limited no-trade clause in his contract.

Crasnick: Recent July trades that had an impact in October … The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is approaching, and fans in several cities are Internet-obsessed as their teams mobilize for the waning days of the Mark Teixeira shopping season.  —  Meanwhile, recent history says we'll …

Ripken on his way  —  O's greats, mayor, fans give send-off before induction  —  He's considered the most prepared player to wear an Orioles uniform, perhaps the most prepared athlete in the history of the game.  —  So it's fitting that days before he'll stand on a dais in Cooperstown …

Fit for a Hall of Famer  —  Giant jersey will adorn county building in honor of Padres legend  —  DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO - What do you get the Hall of Fame ballplayer who already has millions of dollars and the adoration of America's Finest City?  —  A ginormous No. 19 jersey on a public building, of course.

Stockings void of Shaq-Kobe  —  After three years, the NBA and ABC wisely concluded the novelty has worn off Shaq vs. Kobe/Heat vs. Lakers on Christmas.  Instead, word is the NBA will have the Heat play in Cleveland on Christmas, creating a Dwyane Wade vs. LeBron James matchup.