Todd Helton’s home run that wasn’t Friday night raised eyebrows and a big question: Can the humidor and the Rockies’ offense happily coexist at Coors Field?
“I have opinions, but they’re my opinions, and it doesn’t really matter what I think,” Helton said before Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. “Every park is different, and everybody has to adjust to every park the way it’s playing.”
Despite the offensive fireworks on display Saturday night, the overall numbers dramatically show Coors Field is fast becoming a ballpark where homers don’t fly, they die.
Through Friday, the Rockies had hit 23 homers at Coors, putting them on pace for 62 there this season. Before the humidor was put into play in 2002, the Rockies averaged 128 homers a year at Coors, with a high of 149 in 1996. Last season, the Rockies hit 86, their fewest at Coors.
Visitors, too, have suffered a power outage. Before 2002, they averaged 127 homers per year at Coors but are on pace for 78 this year. Last year, visiting teams hit 86. The previous low was 101 in 1998.
And there is this: Colorado has been shut out three times at home this season, twice in the current homestand. Between 1995-2001 (pre-humidor), the Rockies were shut out nine times at home.
Part of that can be pinned on the Rockies’ often-anemic offense this season, but certainly baseball at Coors Field is no longer the scoring-fest it was.
Helton’s blow Friday night in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Takashi Saito appeared destined for the right-field seats. Instead, it landed harmlessly in the glove of Dodgers right fielder J.D. Drew.
“I didn’t crush it, but I thought it would go out of the ballpark,” Helton said. “I’m not going to sit and cry about it. Guys got some cheap home runs here for years. But they aren’t coming cheap right now.”
Cleanup hitter Matt Holliday, who entered Saturday with a team-leading seven homers at Coors, was surprised when Helton’s long ball, and similar well-hit balls by Jorge Piedra and Yorvit Torrealba, turned into outs.
“It’s hard to say what’s happening, but as it gets warmer, you’d think the ball would start carrying a little bit better,” Holliday said.
Matsui’s fresh start
Infielder Kazuo Matsui, a huge star in Japan who wilted under the bright lights of New York City, worked out with the Rockies on Saturday and will do so again today before joining Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday.
“I get a new feeling by coming here,” Matsui said.
He took batting practice and smashed four balls into the second deck in right field. Friday, the Rockies traded Eli Marrero to the Mets in exchange for Matsui and cash. Before the 2004 season, the 30-year-old Matsui signed a three-year, $20.1 million contract with the Mets, but had hit only .256 with 11 home runs and 75 RBIs in 239 games, including a .200 average in 38 games this season.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
Rockies recap
Garrett Atkins’ at-bats belie his experience. He’s comfortable working counts and consistently makes loud outs. After his first slump of the season, Atkins extended his hitting streak to nine games with a three-run homer in the first inning. It was Atkins’ eighth of the season, leaving him on pace for a career-high 24 home runs.
JUDGMENT CALLS: Two bench decisions backfired on manager Clint Hurdle, spoiling a Rockies’ scoring opportunity and providing one for the Dodgers. In the fourth inning, Jason Jennings’ squeeze bunt was foiled when the Dodgers intercepted the sign and pitched out, nailing the runner. In the third, the Rockies, with two out, elected to pitch to Dodgers catcher Russ Martin with pitcher Brett Tomko on deck. Martin singled, knocking in Matt Kemp.
