Chicago – Rockies first baseman Todd Helton relishes self-deprecation. But even he can’t find humor in the worst slump of what has become the most difficult year of his career.
Normally a stranger to distraction, Helton endured reckless comments from Cardinals radio announcer Wayne Hagin in spring training, was connected to Baltimore Orioles trade rumors in April and continues to be left naked by an inexperienced lineup around him.
At the core of Helton’s longest funk – 2-for-42 with 13 strikeouts – is a chilling number: He’s batting .175 against left-handers, whom he hit at a .316 clip entering this season.
“I am going to be all right,” said Helton, who made a great over-the-shoulder catch in the eighth to save a run in Saturday’s 5-1 loss. “I just need to hit the ball hard for a change.”
Helton, hitting .265, is 1-for-29 on the road trip after going hitless in three at-bats against Cubs left-hander Glendon Rusch. Even a return to Coors Field on Monday won’t be without issues, with Hagin making his first appearance in Denver since implying in March that Helton used steroids in 1998.
Helton, who has repeatedly denied taking steroids, said he would issue a statement regarding Hagin. Hagin issued a written apology three days after his radio interview created a national controversy, but Helton didn’t accept it.
Two months later, no reconciliation is planned.
“Now that’s a really stupid question,” Helton said.
Manager Clint Hurdle has staunchly defended Helton.
“If Wayne wants to talk to me I will listen, but I have nothing to say to him,” Hurdle said.
Of more concern to Hurdle is Helton’s inconsistent swing. In a stretch Hurdle called “far and away the most offensively challenged he’s been in the big leagues,” Helton has swung too early on changeups and been a bit late on fastballs.
“It’s well-documented that his power numbers aren’t there, the runs scored, the runs driven in, the batting average with (runners in scoring position),” Hurdle said. “The good news is that we have (115) games left to play, and Lord knows he can make it up.”
Prior restraint
Cubs pitcher Mark Prior is out indefinitely after suffering a compression fracture in his right elbow.
Rockies catcher Todd Greene said it was the second-worst sound he has ever heard on a baseball field, paling only to Jermaine Dye breaking his leg on a foul ball in the 2001 playoffs.
Footnotes
The Cubs acquired former Cherry Creek star David Aardsma and Jerome Williams from the Giants in exchange for failed closer LaTroy Hawkins. Aardsma, a reliever with the Giants last season, will continue his starting experiment in the minor leagues with the Cubs. “He’s a kid who was on the fast track that we think can help us,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. …
Cubs outfielder Jeromy Burnitz said he believes the Rockies’ Matt Holliday will emerge as an impact player despite his sophomore struggles.
“I don’t see any reason why not. He’s big and strong and works hard,” Burnitz said. “I think about Matt a lot because (Cubs outfielder Jason) Dubois reminds me of him so much.”
