Cameron Maybin Misses Time With Stomach Issue

Apr 9, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Cameron  Maybin (24) reacts after being called out on strikes during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a funny business, professional baseball. When most of us have the stomach flu, we take the day off from work, email our bosses with just enough vague details to let them know we’re sick – but not too much – nobody needs that much detail about this kind of issue. But when a major league baseball player comes down with a stomach bug, you hear about it. It’s on TV, the radio, the internet. People talk about it and write about it until about half the city knows the current state of the poor guy’s gastrointestinal system.

Right now, that guy is Cameron Maybin.

Maybin left Monday night’s game with a stomach issue. He missed Tuesday’s game, too. His boss, Bud Black, was asked about it. By reporters. In front of cameramen. And his boss answered the questions. For the record, Black stated that Maybin was “weakened”.

"It’s hanging on … hopefully it will leave him,” Black said."

(h/t Corey Brock at padres.com)

Maybin’s health may be of more concern to Padres’ fans than most players. The team’s starting center fielder missed all but 14 games in 2013, and just when he was ready to return this year, he ruptured a biceps tendon, and missed the first 24 games of the season. In the 8 games he has played in since returning, he has hit .360, gotten on base at a .407 clip, and slugged .560, with five doubles. He has reminded us what it is like to have a real live, legitimate center fielder roaming the spacious grounds of Petco Park. He has robbed Paul Goldschmidt of a home run with an over-the-wall grab that he made look as easy as jumping up to touch that high branch outside your house.

In short, Maybin has played baseball, and played it well. And in a season where the main bright spot has been pitching, it’s been nice to watch Maybin come back and hit the ball and play great defense.

So perhaps we can forgive all the interest in Maybin’s stomach issues. We really just wanted to see him back in the lineup.