Somewhere between a few hunting trips and enjoying life as a husband and father, Todd Helton became obsessed with redemption.
If memory serves, explained Rockies reliever and good friend Mike DeJean, it was early January. What happened then, he said, will define what transpires over the next six months.
“He just became unbelievably focused, like I have never seen him before,” DeJean said before Sunday’s workout in preparation for today’s 2:05 p.m. season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It was to the point where he shut down everything else and it was all baseball.”
Helton struggled through his most difficult season a year ago, hitting .320, but posting career lows in home runs (20) and RBIs (79). He entered spring in the best shape of his career, weighing 212 pounds and feeling better about his periodically aching back.
Any doubt he had was erased during spring training. He hit safely in his final 12 games, going 19-for-35 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.
“I let myself get into places last year I never should have been (a year ago),” said Helton, 10-for-25 with two home runs against today’s starter Brandon Webb. “A lot of it with me starts with an attitude. I am not the most gifted player on the field. I need to work hard and go about things the right way.”
Helton’s edge has not gone unnoticed. Manager Clint Hurdle smiles when he talks about the damage Helton will cause this season. DeJean predicted a batting title – “And he better get that hardware by a lot, not a few hundredths of a point.” – and owner Charlie Monfort believes Helton is more comfortable with his veteran status.
“He has something he wants to prove, you can see it,” Monfort said. “He came out, with Todd and The Toddlers last year, and put the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Then, he saw that we had a pretty successful run when he was out. He doesn’t need to do everything. He can just go out and play his game, and he has some help around him.”
Live and in color
It wasn’t too long ago Rockies players were grousing about the batting practice music and lifeless ballpark environment. It appears that won’t be a problem this season. An improved sound system echoed through Coors Field on Sunday, the video screen in left field featured a new feature – Rockies Quick Flicks, short montages on star players with current music hits – and the scoreboard displayed the lineups of both teams in color for the first time.
“It looks good,” Monfort said. “I think it can help (create energy).”
Footnotes
To make room for catcher Miguel Ojeda, who has two minor-league options remaining, the Rockies designated Triple-A starter Mike Esposito for assignment, giving them 10 days to trade or release him. … Catcher Yorvit Torrealba should have an MRI on his shoulder today or Tuesday. He and pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim (strained hamstring) are expected to return to the big leagues in the last week of April or early May. … The Rockies and Fox Sports Net have asked fans to pledge $1 per Rockies victory for “Wins for Kids,” a charitable venture for Child- ren’s Hospital and the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association. … The Rockies haven’t given up on the color purple, but they no longer will wear purple shirts under their sleeveless black jerseys. Today they will don white jerseys with Rockies emblazoned across the front.
