New York – The symbolism was impossible to miss. On Sunday, the 40,654 fans who straggled into Shea Stadium received growth-chart posters of New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes.
Over the next few hours, the Rockies were reminded that they don’t measure up as contenders, blanked 2-0 as the National League’s resident bullies completed a three-game mauling.
When this season is forgotten, this series should be remembered when the Rockies reconfigure their roster this winter. Fans can bemoan the fact that the Rockies need a telescope to see Cincinnati’s wild-card pace car, sitting five lengths back. And they grind their teeth over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ seven-game bulge in the National League West.
But in reality, there should be no angst. Even if all had gone right in this series, it would have delayed the inevitable. The Rockies aren’t going to the playoffs with this offense. They rank in the bottom third in runs scored, home runs and average with runners in scoring position.
“We have just stunk recently,” outfielder Matt Holliday said. “And I don’t know exactly why.”
Talk afterward was how the Rockies, shut out for the 10th time behind the magical work of Orlando Hernandez, need another middle-of-the-order bat. The reality is they need their superstar back. Todd Helton, who turned 33 on Sunday, is trudging through his most disappointing season, on pace for career lows in home runs (15) and RBIs (71).
For the first time in weeks, he opened up about the challenge facing him because of his April illness, acknowledging that his power numbers aren’t going to return this season.
“The idea is to get better. I am always shooting for that. But I’m doing the best with what I have right now,” said Helton, who went 2-for-12 in the series. “I don’t accept it, but it is what it is.”
During the Mets’ broadcast, Keith Hernandez, a former all-star, described Helton as a slap hitter. That, he added, is not him. Helton realizes as much, but he’s helpless to change it at the moment. He lost 10 pounds when he contracted acute ileitis. He weighs 205 pounds, about seven lighter than when he left spring training. But concern about the scale, he explained, misses the point.
“It’s not about my weight, it’s about my strength,” said Helton, who played every out from May 5 until a late-inning switch on June 27. “You see how hot it is out there? How am I going to put on weight playing in that every day?”
Helton has tinkered in an effort to create thunder. He recently switched to a heavier bat. But don’t confuse his disappointment with lacking confidence.
“I am always going to hit,” Helton said.
He recognizes the large role he must assume, and his contract won’t let him forget. Helton has $90.1 million guaranteed through the 2011 season. He could void that by Nov. 15 and become a free agent after next season, but that’s beyond unlikely.
Helton wants to win as a Rockie. It may happen only if he makes a triumphant return.
“That,” manager Clint Hurdle admitted, “would obviously make everybody’s load a little lighter.”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
