Milledge on style: What, me worry?  —  Lastings Milledge is aware that his flamboyant style of play might ruffle some feathers around the National League.  He just doesn't care.  —  "I like to use the word 'colorful,' " Milledge said last night before he went 2-for-4 with a double and run in the Mets' 6-3 win over the Pirates.

Schilling's words bring response from Canseco  —  Sox pitcher called hypocrite and liar  —  Barry Bonds came under fire on HBO's "Costas Now."  (DINO VOURNAS/REUTERS)  —  CLEVELAND — Former big leaguer Jose Canseco called Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling a "hypocrite and a liar" …

Brewers acquire Linebrink from Padres  —  Milwaukee sends three pitching prospects to San Diego  —  CINCINNATI — They had to part with three valuable pitching prospects to do it, but the Brewers accomplished their primary trade deadline goal by acquiring reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Notes: Podsednik prefers top of order  —  Outfielder expresses desire to bat first or second  —  CHICAGO — Excelling from the leadoff position made Scott Podsednik an All-Star in 2005 and played a strong contributing role in the White Sox first World Series title in almost 90 years, achieved that very same season.

A-Rod gets No. 499 off Meche in KC  —  Another blast will make slugger 22nd member of 500 HR club  —  KANSAS CITY — For some time, it hasn't been a matter of if, but when.  Now, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez sits just one home run shy of joining baseball's prestigious 500 home run club.

Possible Teixeira trade sets clubhouse abuzz  —  San Francisco — There was a buzz in the Braves' clubhouse, and it had nothing to do with Barry Bonds.  —  Players were excited to hear the Braves have been discussing a possible trade for Texas Rangers slugger Mark Teixeira …

Grudzielanek Leaves Game  —  UPDATE: Turns out Grudz is just day-to-day with knee soreness.  The Mets deny any rumor that they've traded for him.  Two Royal false alarms today, sorry about that.  —  A friendly emailer tells me that Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was in the original lineup …

Notes: Uggla reaches mark again  —  Second baseman has hit 20 home runs in consecutive years  —  PHOENIX — Second base is not traditionally a huge power position.  But Dan Uggla is making it one for the Marlins.  —  After going deep twice on Tuesday night at Chase Field in Arizona …

Yank travel secretary subject of IRS probe  —  Yankee traveling secretary Dave Szen is the latest casualty of the IRS' investigation into illegal activity in baseball, the Daily News has learned.  —  Szen is under investigation by the IRS for allegedly failing to declare income derived …

Dempster patiently working on velocity  —  ST. LOUIS — Ryan Dempster was throwing as high as 97 m.p.h. before being sidelined by his oblique injury, the best velocity he has had in quite some time.  Dempster isn't concerned about getting back to 97 too quickly now that he's back.

Pirates Notebook: Snell's remarks cause little stir  —  NEW YORK — "Baby Sheff."  —  That is Pirates reliever Shawn Chacon's new nickname for starter Ian Snell after Snell's recent string of controversial comments about the team and its losing ways.  —  "He's like Gary Sheffield," …

Lowe goes out early with groin injury  —  He joins list of injured pitchers, leaving early with strain in Astros' win.  MRI exam is set for today.  L.A. gets just six hits for second game in a row.  —  HOUSTON — The Dodgers were nearly out of a period that Manager Grady Little had likened …

Kendall to split time with Hill  —  Piniella aims to get veteran's 'bat going'  —  ST. LOUIS — Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday he will split the playing time behind the plate between Jason Kendall and Koyie Hill for the time being.  —  When Kendall arrived in a trade from Oakland on July 16 …