While others debate whether the Rockies’ eight-day layoff before the World Series is for good or for ill, Todd Helton has no doubts.
“For me, personally, I like it,” he said. “There’s a lot of aches and pains that I want to go away. And I wasn’t swinging the bat well. So I think the layoff will be good for me.”
In the National League division series and NL Championship Series, Helton hit .154 (4-for-26) with one RBI, six strikeouts and an on-base percentage of .233. He hit .320 in the regular season with a .434 on-base percentage, second in the NL to Barry Bonds.
Helton was sharp in Saturday’s 10-inning intrasquad game at Coors Field. He was 5-for-6 with four singles and a double. He drove in two runs. All his hits were to the opposite field.
Cook discussions begin. The Rockies have until the morning of Wednesday’s Game 1 of the World Series to finalize their roster. While speculation exists about who will be the designated hitter — any number of reserve outfielders are available — the toughest decision is whether Aaron Cook will replace Franklin Morales in the rotation. The discussions started Friday, with manager Clint Hurdle not interested in providing hints, reminding everyone what an arduous task it was during the NLCS.
“It’s probably one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make regarding personnel,” Hurdle said of leaving Cook off the roster last time.
Cook threw 4-2/3 innings in Saturday’s practice game, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking two. He gave up a two-run homer to Kazuo Matsui in the fourth inning. Matsui rounded the bases with his fist in the air in mock tribute. When he neared home, Cook blocked his path, then the two exchanged high-fives.
“I don’t think of today as an audition for the Series,” Cook said. “They know enough about me and know what I can do. We’ll just have to wait and see what the decision is.”
Should Boston advance, Cook’s case would be helped, since he surrendered just two runs in 7-1/3 innings in a June 12 loss at Fenway Park. Morales provided the rotation with a jolt in August and the team has won 12 consecutive games started by the left-hander and fellow rookie Ubaldo Jimenez. However, Morales hasn’t made it out of the fifth inning in either of his two postseason starts.
Given Morales’ electric stuff — 95-mph fastball, sneaky changeup — it’s possible he could be used as a situational reliever or long man.
Morales pitched two innings Saturday, allowing no hits but walking two.
Simulated Friday. It was admittedly difficult for the players to muster any real intensity for Friday’s fake game. Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez alternated innings, throwing to hitters, among them Matt Holliday, Jeff Baker, Willy Taveras and Ryan Spilborghs. That Francis and Jimenez were used sets them up as the Game 1 and 2 starters against the American League opponent.
Footnotes. Josh Fogg, always quick with the one-liner, told teammates who were interested in “getting hot” to make sure and get their hacks against him Saturday. Outfielder Brad Hawpe, on the blur that has been his team’s past month: “It’s hard to comprehend. You want to slow it all down because it’s happened so fast. I can’t wait until the season is over to get my hands on all the videos of this so I can watch it.” Manager Clint Hurdle was a guest on Jim Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show Friday. He spoke compellingly about how daughter Madison, born with a birth defect, has changed his perspective on sports and life. Erstwhile Rockie Jason Jennings is pulling for his former teammates. Jennings had surgery on a torn flexor tendon several weeks ago and is ahead of schedule in his recovery. “It’s frustrating to try and watch the games sometimes, but I am thrilled for the guys. The players deserve a lot of credit,” Jennings said. Several Rockies, including RyanSpilborghs and Cory Sullivan, are planning to attend tonight’s Broncos-Steelers game at Invesco Field at Mile High.
