Ace's breaking pitch appears to be outside  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Another bizarro day at the Red Sox spring training site.  —  At 7:30 a.m., Curt Schilling went on his user-friendly radio program to announce that contract extension talks had broken off and he'll be a free agent after the season.

Notes: Lo Duca sidelined again  —  Catcher expected to miss few days with right hand tendinitis  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — His Spring Training already reduced by suspected food poisoning last week, Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is likely to miss a few more days because of tendinitis in his right hand.

Right-hander Mitre playing catch-up  —  · The shoulder trouble that torpedoed Sergio Mitre's 2006 season has him a few steps behind his fellow pitchers this spring.  —  His teammates are throwing live batting practice, but Mitre continues to pitch on the side to strengthen the shoulder.

FCC investigating MLB's proposed DirecTV deal  —  WASHINGTON — The government is investigating a proposed deal between Major League Baseball and DirecTV Inc. that has had fans in a tizzy.  —  MLB reportedly seeks to strike an exclusive deal with the satellite television provider to offer its "Extra Innings" baseball package.

Learning curve  —  Pitcher Henry Owens put off his dream to attend medical school to pursue a career in baseball.  —  dneal@MiamiHerald.com  —  JUPITER - Most 27-year-olds aren't where they thought they would be 10 years ago.  —  In that regard, Marlins pitcher Henry Owens isn't much different from his peers.

Hughes throws 'filthy stuff'  —  That's how Giambi describes BP session of Yanks' top prospect  —  TAMPA, Fla. — If Phil Hughes was even a tad nervous about throwing batting practice to the Yankees' major-leaguers in front of manager Joe Torre and company, it sure didn't show.

For peak performance, Reyes must aim low  —  JUPITER, FLA. — To be the pitcher the Cardinals think he can be and he knows he has to be, Anthony Reyes has embraced the power of the lower reaches of the strike zone.  —  He has accepted the two-seamer into his life.  —  If only his mechanics made his conversion easier.

Berra, Larsen to see '56 perfect game  —  NEWARK, N.J. — It is one of sport's most enduring images: New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra leaping into Don Larsen's arms after the final out of the pitcher's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.  —  For decades, it was also considered …

On deck: Dodgertown to ghost town?  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Baseball fan B.F. Peters thinks Dodgertown is heaven: He loves a cloudless day, warm sunshine and watching from a few feet away as the Los Angeles Dodgers, in their bright blue uniforms, practice on the same fields as Jackie Robinson.

Pirates Notebook: Matos good bet to make team  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — It would appear that Luis Matos will have a hard time not making the Pirates' 25-man roster out of spring training.  —  Asked yesterday how Matos might fit in with the team's needs …

Notes: Possible platoon not ideal  —  Outfield logjam may mean reduced playing time for some  —  PHOENIX — Geoff Jenkins is not the only Brewers outfielder who wants out if the team is planning a platoon.  —  Kevin Mench, who struggled mightily after a midseason trade from Texas to Milwaukee …

Matthews one of a kind  —  Frick Award places Royals' voice among broadcasting elite  —  KANSAS CITY — One voice, one team, one for the ages.  —  Denny Matthews, who called the Royals' inaugural game in 1969 and has been at it ever since, was overwhelmed Thursday when he was named the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award.

Logan a defensive specialist in center  —  Speedy outfielder working hard to improve his offensive game  —  VIERA, Fla. — It's 12:50 p.m. ET on Wednesday.  Nationals center fielder Nook Logan is eating a sandwich and talking to reliever Chris Booker in the Space Coast Stadium locker room.