FORT MYERS, Fla. — Oswaldo Arcia's wife Karla is here, cooking for him every day. But it hasn't helped yet, Arcia says.
Arcia still bothered by lingering flu symptoms
It's been a week since Arcia came down with the flu that afflicted a half-dozen other teammates.
"Still not good," Arcia said this morning, pointing to his stomach. "Everything I [consume], food, juice, whatever — I go right in there," he said, pointing to the nearby bathroom.
It's been a week since Arcia came down with the flu that afflicted a half-dozen other teammates, and while he felt better over the weekend, the queasiness returned this week. When I suggested that a change in diet, after spending the winter back home in Venezuela, might be part of it, Arcia shook his head. "The food is good. My wife cooks," he said. "[I'm] just bad right now."
Arcia, who hasn't played since Monday, took batting practice in the cage this morning, and said he can feel the difference his upset stomach is making. He's out of the lineup again today; when might he return to action? Arcia simply shrugged, palms up. "Soon, soon," he said.
The Twins are getting a look at backup outfield candidates, at least. Eddie Rosario played Tuesday in Dunedin, Chris Herrmann was in left field yesterday, and Shane Robinson gets the start today. Rosario and Herrmann both homered during their start, so it's not like the Twins have missed his power. And for what it's worth, Byron Buxton hasn't started a game since Monday's B game in Bradenton, though that's apparently not related to any sickness. He's not projected to be a big-league starter this year the way Arcia is.
Even without Arcia's bat in the lineup, the Twins have some sluggers. Kennys Vargas and Miguel Sano, each of whom has homered in the past two days, are playing, as is Josmil Pinto, who gets his first start behind the plate after serving as DH yesterday. Pinto is apparently completely recovered from the quad strain that limited him earlier in camp. Aaron Hicks, meanwhile, will try to redeem himself after committing baserunning mistakes Monday and Tuesday.
Phil Hughes makes his second start today against Mike Redmond's Marlins. Dee Gordon, brother of Twins prospect Nick Gordon, made the two-hour trip. Here are today's lineups:
MARLINS
Gordon 2B
Yelich LF
Ozuna CF
Bour 1B
Johnson DH
Hechavarria SS
Mathis C
Kelly RF
Solano 3B
Cosart RHP
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Robinson LF
Mauer 1B
Vargas DH
Hunter RF
Sano 3B
Escobar SS
Pinto C
Hicks CF
Hughes RHP, followed by Pelfrey, Duensing, Boyer, Thompson, Hamburger.
Emmanuel Rodriguez had an abbreviated season after being hit by the injury bug, but he showed promise as a disciplined hitter.