Note-note. Who’s there? …
Have you noticed? It’s a different guy wearing Todd Helton’s uniform this season. Different approach, different expectations and, yes, a different home ballpark.
Things have changed at the Ballpark Formerly Known as Coors Canaveral. It’s still baseball’s best hitter’s park, always will be. But thanks to the wonders of the humidor, it no longer is a good power hitter’s park.
Instead of grumbling about those would-be home runs dying on the warning track, Helton has changed his approach at the plate. He’s a line-drive hitter now, a gap hitter, a doubles machine. He’s even hitting the ball the opposite way, as he did early in his career, a trait he had gotten away from in the past few seasons.
It’s not so much a radical change as it is a natural evolution by the only Rockie remaining from the pre-humidor days.
“Subconsciously you have to make some kind of change,” Helton said. “Your expectations have to change. You couldn’t expect to hit a ball to left and have it go out of the ballpark like it used to. It just doesn’t happen anymore.
“When people hear ‘Coors Field,’ they think launching pad. It’s still a good place to hit, but you’re not going to get second basemen coming in here and hitting two home runs. If a guy hits a ball out, it’s usually legit.”
With the one-quarter mark of the season just over the dashboard, Helton has one home run at Coors Field. Now for the trade-off: He’s hitting .383 – .420 at home, .359 on the road – compared to the .292 mark he took into last May 15.
Can you say batting champion? Helton could, but won’t. He has been there, done that – hitting a league-leading .372 in 2000 – but won’t speculate on whether he can do it again.
“Not worried about it,” he said. …
Clint Hurdle, on Coors Lite: “I think we all like the fact that it’s not overly hitter-
friendly like it’s been in the past. There were times when maybe some hitters here were trying to lift the ball and know that, if they didn’t click it, it might carry out. … That’s not the case now.” …
Get-well wishes to CU sports info director Dave Plati, recovering from recent surgery to clean up bone spurs and frayed meniscus in his right knee. So what did the surgeon find in there? “Lots of stuff,” reports Plati, “including Jimmy Hoffa.” …
Turns out Justin Holland isn’t the only local QB trying his hand at the CFL. Ex-School of Mines star Chad Friehauf, who had a small latte in the Broncos’ training camp, has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. …
The Buzz in Boulder: According to Rivals.com, Springdale, Ark., power forward Michael Sanchez will visit CU today, the first blue-chipper to give Jeff Bzdelik’s program a look-see. Sanchez, 6-feet-8, 235, lists Arkansas, Kentucky and Wake Forest as his other possible destinations. …
Shaquille O’Neal, to reporters in South Florida after Chicago Trib hoops columnist Sam Smith suggested that Shaq and the Heat should part ways: “Sam is an idiot – i-d-o-u-t – idiot.” …
Not that I’m taking a shot at Shaq. I’m the one who once wrote “By Jim Amstrong, Denver Post Sports Writer.” …
Somewhere, a whole lotta scouts are scratching their heads. Why? Because ex-Rockie Jack Cust, your basic Triple A-plus player throughout his career, had five homers and 12 ribbies in the A’s four games before going 0-for-3 on Monday. …
Overheard Saturday night, a.k.a. Rockies calendar night, in the Coors Field stands: “‘Hey, John, I noticed they don’t have anything listed in October except Halloween.” …
And finally, happy birthday to some big names in the toy department. Emmitt Smith is 38, John Smoltz 40, George Brett 54 and Don Nelson 67.
Staff writer Jim Armstrong – that’s Armstrong with an “r” – can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
