Cuddyer eager to return from stomach virus

DENVER -- A day after moving between his bed and a couch was a demanding task, Michael Cuddyer stood in Walt Weiss' office, trying to convince his manager he could play.

After missing two games with a crippling stomach virus, Cuddyer was back in the Rockies' clubhouse Tuesday afternoon. But Weiss wanted to give his right fielder more time to recover from an illness that Cuddyer said four of the five members of his family had battled.

"He came into my office and tried to talk his way into it," Weiss said. "I wanted to give him a day to run around out here. He's been in bed for a couple days, give him a day to work out before you throw him in the lineup."

Cuddyer said anyone who has had a stomach virus knows what he endured, saying the sickness "hits you from one second to the next." He did take batting practice before pinch-hitting for starter Jeff Manship in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Padres, and Weiss said he expected Cuddyer to return to the starting lineup Wednesday.

An All-Star approaching the tail end of one of the best years of his career, Cuddyer is hitting .328 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs.