masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI don’t have a trick knee, but something told me that today’s game would get rained out.

Why else would I have stayed back – besides dumb luck?

Alfredo Simon was supposed to start against the Yankees tomorrow night, but that opportunity was washed away. The Orioles aren’t going to skip Jeremy Guthrie’s turn, and Brian Matusz already is slated to start a minor league game.

I arrived back at my hotel today at the exact same time as Simon. Coincidence?

Yes, that would be it.

Bob Dutton…I don’t have a trick knee, but something told me that today’s game would get rained out.

Why else would I have stayed back – besides dumb luck?

Alfredo Simon was supposed to start against the Yankees tomorrow night, but that opportunity was washed away. The Orioles aren’t going to skip Jeremy Guthrie’s turn, and Brian Matusz already is slated to start a minor league game.

I arrived back at my hotel today at the exact same time as Simon. Coincidence?

Yes, that would be it.

Bob Dutton tweets that the Orioles acquired minor league catcher Steven Lerud from the Royals for a PTBNL. I’m taking his word for it.

Closer Mike Gonzalez told me that he felt good yesterday while throwing two innings in a Double-A game.

“It went well,” he said. “I like getting two innings in there every spring training. Now we’ve got back-to-back (appearances) and we’re ready to go.

“Everything felt good. The fastball was coming out of my hand nice…”

I’ll pause here while you update your “ball coming out of my hand” list.

“My breaking pitches were good, crisp,” he said. “That’s all I can ask for. It’s definitely improving every outing. Definitely where I thought I would be now when spring training started. Definitely good news.”

Gonzalez will take a few days off before pitching in consecutive games.