Before contending teams with a deficiency at first base get too excited about acquiring , they should understand the Rockies’ food chain.
At the top are Charlie and Dick Monfort, the team owners. Then it’s team president Keli McGregor. Interlocking elbows at the next level is general manager Dan O’Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle. To their right is Helton. And of these three, Helton is by far the highest paid.
Then it’s everybody else.
“In a lot of ways, Todd is like a partner of ours,” McGregor said. “He’s a leader on the field. He’s grown up in this organization. Dan communicates with him constantly. Clint communicates with him, I communicate with him. So as it relates to an inquiry from another club, we look at Todd as critical to our process. He sends the same message every day that we as an organization want our young players to hear and see and build toward.”
After batting practice Tuesday, Helton said he appreciated McGregor’s support but didn’t want to comment on a trade.
Since it was known the Rockies were committing to youth this season, there has been speculation about whether the team would deal Helton, a premier hitter who has roughly $107 million left on a contract that runs through 2011.
“Not everything ties out to a dollar in this game,” McGregor said.
The subject was raised again last week when it was learned the Baltimore Orioles had informally inquired about Helton’s availability. The Rockies’ answer: Unless Helton, who has a no-trade clause, asks to be moved, the team won’t move him.
“Our position as an organization in dealing with that is, through Dan, if Todd ever has any question about anything, he knows we have so much communication, he has a chance to bring it up,” McGregor said. “I just don’t anticipate this being an issue.”
Leg work
About an hour prior to pregame batting practice, Helton participated in running drills with strength and conditioning coach Brad Andress.
“My legs haven’t felt right all spring,” said Helton, who is batting just .275 with one homer in 19 games.
Barmes loses lead
Rookie didn’t so much lose the National League batting lead as the Cubs’ Derrek Lee took it. Lee went 4-for-4, raising his batting average from .400 to .430. Barmes, the league leader the previous seven days, is batting .421.
Mohr ready for call-up
With an off day Wednesday for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, outfielder Dustan Mohr (calf) interrupted his minor-league rehabilitation assignment and joined the Rockies in their pregame workout.
Mohr is scheduled to play nine innings for the Sky Sox tonight, then be activated Friday in Los Angeles.
“I’m more than ready to go,” Mohr said.
