Todd Helton is happy, even if his face doesn’t know it. Grinding through a difficult season that has prompted questions about his qualifications to bat cleanup, Helton is finally hitting his best when the Rockies need him most.
So what if he’s not smiling about it?
“You know I only like talking about it if I am going bad,” Helton said with a smirk. “Maybe when it’s over I will discuss it.”
That doesn’t appear like it will be anytime soon based on his recent at-bats. After a disappointing, 1-for-11 series in San Francisco, Helton has collected 13 hits in his past 25 at-bats, including four extra-base hits. With two more doubles, he would become the first major-leaguer to club at least 35 in 10 consecutive seasons.
“He’s an amazing hitter. The first time I saw him in an interleague game, he was hitting .340 and it seemed like he made hard contact on every pitch,” Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel said. “Watching him now, he’s hitting the fastball away to left and pulling the breaking ball. I don’t know how he does it.”
When asked about any mechanical adjustments, Helton declined. Talk to scouts, and they say that Helton is letting his hands work more. When he slumps, his body seems to get in the way of his trademark swing. Most salient about this stretch is that some thump is returning, even as he remains on pace for a career low in home runs.
Helton is driving the ball to the gap with authority, and his on-base percentage of .430 ranks third in baseball behind Barry Bonds and David Ortiz.
“You don’t hit .300 for 10 straight years because you can’t hit,” Matt Holliday said. “He’s right on everything right now.”
Footnotes
In the same incident that led to manager Clint Hurdle’s one-game suspension last night, Troy Tulowitzki is debating whether to appeal a $500 fine for his ejection last weekend against Arizona. … Holliday is the Rockies’ recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player devoted to community work. … After Brad Penny and Livan Hernandez moved up to face them, the Rockies caught a break when Jake Peavy pitched on three days’ rest Wednesday night, removing him from this weekend’s Padres series. … For now, Franklin Morales will start Monday, with Ubaldo Jimenez going Tuesday, though Hurdle said that is subject to change. … Vizquel’s beautiful glove toss for a double play Tuesday night was not a first. “I have done it once before. It’s just instinct,” he said. Vizquel, a free agent this winter, said he wants to play two more years.
