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.

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 …

Rangers, Braves talk deal for Tex  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  With less than a week to go before the trading deadline, the Rangers are heavily involved in talks with Atlanta on a deal that could send Mark Teixeira to the Braves, major league sources confirmed Wednesday.

Grudzielanek Leaves Game  —  A friendly emailer tells me that Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was in the original lineup, but was scratched at the last minute.  Joe Girardi says he may be headed to the Mets.  We'll keep you posted.  And now back to my sweet n' sour chicken.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Homestead loses squeaker in state tourney  —  Stevens Point - After nursing a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh and final inning, the Homestead Highlanders gave up three runs and wound up losing to New Holstein 3-2 this evening in the quarterfinals of the WIAA state baseball tournament.

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 …

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 the 51s which are a talented team.  —  The Sox have always liked third baseman Andy LaRoche …

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.