Late Wednesday night, Todd Helton moved gingerly through the Rockies clubhouse. It was clear his problematic lower back was acting up.
“It’s just worse than usual,” Helton said.
In an unusual move, Helton left Wednesday’s game before the eighth inning. Just how bad Helton’s back is, and how much time he will miss, remain uncertain. But Helton did not play Thursday night, and manager Clint Hurdle said the team is taking steps to get the first baseman healthy.
“As we move forward, I just think there’s going to be days we take more liberally, and he’s good with it,” Hurdle said. “But this is something we need to calm down.”
Jeff Baker made his fifth start at first base and hit a two-run homer in the second inning. He could be in line for more playing time at first.
“We’ll give (Baker) the opportunity a few games to see what he can do over there,” Hurdle said, an indication Helton could miss tonight’s game, too.
Helton, 34, has played in all but five of Colorado’s 86 games, but he’s in a prolonged slump. He has gone 14-for-77 in his past 22 games to drop from .295 to .266. Hurdle said “there’s no doubt” Helton’s back problems have kept him far below his .328 career average. In fact, Hurdle said the Helton he has watched warming up in the batting cages “with force and intensity” wasn’t always the same player he saw during games recently.
Also out of the lineup Thursday for the second straight game was center fielder Willy Taveras. He’s nursing a strained left quadriceps.
Holliday eyes derby.
Matt Holliday burst onto the national scene last July with a powerful performance in the Home Run Derby. He lost in the semifinals at AT&T Park, a memorable event with his brother Josh serving as his pitcher. Holliday, who is likely to be voted in by his peers for this year’s game, confirmed that he wants to participate at Yankee Stadium.
“I will do it if they ask,” Holliday said.
Footnotes.
The Rockies are expected to make a strong run at signing Andy Burns, a former Rocky Mountain High star, whom they drafted in the 25th round. Burns has committed to the University of Kentucky, but the Wildcats are undergoing a coaching change.
Patrick Saunders and Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
