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.

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.

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.

Senate panel backs team subsidies  —  TALLAHASSEE — A Senate committee approved a proposal Thursday that would double the subsidy the state gives professional sports teams from $2 million to $4 million a year.  —  Under the plan, the state would subsidize $540 million over 30 years …

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.

Off the Cliff  —  Manager Willie Randolph was none too pleased with today's back page story.  Tracked down by globe-trotting Newsday columnist Ken Davidoff, former Met Cliff Floyd described Randolph as "confused" in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the NLCS.  —  Floyd also said Randolph deferred …

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.

'J.P. tried to bury me'  —  Shea Hillenbrand tells Bob Elliott explosive tales about his stint in Toronto  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Shea Hillenbrand speaks calmly as he reflects on his sometimes turbulent time as an infielder/designated hitter with the Blue Jays — an 18-month stretch that culminated …

Showalter no longer in the hot seat  —  Ex-Rangers manager Showalter happy to be Indians consultant  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Buck Showalter looked nearly the same as he did a year ago, when he was watching over his Rangers pitchers and catchers in Arizona.

February 22: Good news on Duque  —  Orlando Hernandez's MRI this afternooon showed arthritis, but no disk injury in his upper back.  GM Omar Minaya said he should resume throwing in three to four days.  ``Everything looked well,'' Minaya said moments ago in a conference call.

Castillo takes grounders at third base  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — It was jarring not so much that Jose Castillo, the Pirates' second baseman the past three years, was taking grounders yesterday at third base.  —  But, rather, that he was doing …

Deals not driving Young, Teixeira  —  As negotiations loom, Rangers stars keep focus on playing ball  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - On their last free day before reporting to Rangers training camp, Mark Teixeira and Michael Young got together for a round of golf Tuesday.

Mets rip Phils' Rollins for NL boasts  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — On the morning of the first full-squad workout, it is customary for manager Willie Randolph to deliver the keynote address as sort of a pep talk for his returning team.  In doing so yesterday, Randolph mixed in some praise …