Ninety minutes before the start of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Todd Helton leaned back in his chair and talked hunting and hitting.
One, he does frequently. The other, he does better than anyone else who has put on a Rockies uniform. Helton strode humbly into the spotlight, rapping his 500th double and the game-winning home run in a 4-3 win Wednesday at Coors Field.
His personal history helped soothe the lingering pain of growing injuries. Jason Marquis’ next start has been pushed back from Friday to Tuesday because of a finger blister. And reliever Manuel Corpas could be lost for the season after revealing he will have surgery Friday to remove bone chips from his elbow.
As he has done so many times over the past 13 years, Helton provided comfort, a reason to watch, an accomplishment to savor. That he kept the Rockies in the wild-card lead entering Friday’s cage match with the San Francisco Giants gave his swings even deeper meaning.
“The home run is more important because we won,” Helton said matter-of-factly of the eighth-inning blast off Scott Schoeneweis. “After my career is over, I will look back on the other moments.”
His 500th double, a threshold only 50 players have reached, was vintage Helton. He was fooled by Jon Garland’s third-inning changeup. Yet, he kept his hands back and flicked the ball with a one-armed swing off the right-field scoreboard. Earlier in the day, Helton worked diligently in the batting cage on keeping his weight back.
“He belongs among the elite with guys I played with or against, guys like (Rod) Carew and Wade Boggs,” hitting instructor Don Baylor said. “He’s special. There’s no way around that.”
Baylor knew that when he put Helton in his first hitting group for batting practice. The kid didn’t look out of place swinging with Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla.
“No Rockie has ever been better than Todd,” said right fielder Brad Hawpe, who told anyone who would listen last winter that Helton would have a big season. “He’s the comeback player of the year.”
Helton’s wildly successful return from back surgery — he’s hitting .324 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs — is one of several reasons the Rockies are eyeing the playoffs. Their pitching, however, has been instrumental in the climb from irrelevance to wild-card favorites.
That’s why Wednesday’s win was laced with trepidation. Marquis isn’t sure his blister will respond to rest. He has been the staff ace, winning nine times after losses. Corpas could return in September. But his absence underscores the need for relief help, either through trade — Baltimore’s George Sherrill, Boston’s Takashi Saito and Cleveland’s Rafael Betancourt have attracted interest — or promotion; they have a live arm at Triple-A in Esmil Rogers.
“This is a good team. We believe in each other,” Marquis said. “It’s not about me or one guy.”
Well, technically it was Wednesday.
“Todd’s a great player and an even better person,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “He’s someone that I am glad I got a chance to play with.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
The fastest hitters to reach 500 double since 1954
Todd Helton … 1,749 games played
Edgar Martinez … 1,942
Jeff Kent … 2,038
Wade Boggs … 2,059
Garrett Anderson … 2,067
Doubles by first basemen
1. Rafael Palmeiro … 585
2. Eddie Murray … 560
3. Lou Gehrig … 534
4. Cap Anson … 528
5. Mark Grace … 511
6. Tony Perez … 505
7. Todd Helton … 500
7. John Olerud … 500
9. Bill Buckner … 498
10. Mickey Vernon … 490
500 doubles with the same team
Stan Musial, St. Louis … 725
Craig Biggio, Houston … 668
Ty Cobb, Detroit … 666
George Brett, Kansas City … 665
Carl Yaztrzemski, Boston … 646
Cal Ripken, Baltimore … 603
Pete Rose, Cincinnati … 601
Hank Aaron, Atlanta … 600
Robin Yount, Milwaukee … 583
Charlie Gehringer, Detroit … 574
Paul Waner, Pittsburgh … 559
Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh … 556
Tony Gwynn, San Diego … 543
Lou Gehrig, N.Y. Yankees … 534
Cap Anson, Chicago Cubs … 530
Ted Williams, Boston … 525
Edgar Martinez, Seattle … 514
Willie Mays, San Francisco … 504
Todd Helton, Colorado … 500
All time doubles leaders
1. Tris Speaker … 792
2. Pete Rose … 746
3. Stan Musial … 725
4. Ty Cobb … 724
5. Craig Biggio … 668
6. George Brett … 665
7. Nap Lajoie … 657
8. Carl Yastrzemski … 646
9. Honus Wagner … 640
10. Hank Aaron … 624
