PHOENIX — Todd Helton is mad at himself. But he’s not hurting, and he’s not worried.
Helton entered Friday night’s game against the Diamondbacks mired in a 1-for-16 (.063) slump on the current road trip. He had four strikeouts and went 0-for-9 in three games in San Francisco.
But Helton says his surgically repaired back is fine, and he has no doubts he’ll get back on track as the Rockies enter their final 14 games of the regular season.
“I just stunk, it happens,” he said of his struggles against the Giants. “But I’m fine.”
September has historically been one of Helton’s most productive months. He entered 2009 with a .345 career average in September. But entering Friday, he was hitting just .244 (11-for-45) with one homer, one double and eight RBIs this month.
So what does the first baseman have to do to rediscover his groove?
“Just get out there and be able to have an opportunity to play,” Helton said. “There really is no big problem. I’m going to be fine.”
Cook’s test.
Whether Aaron Cook contributes down the stretch or in the playoffs could be determined today when he throws 65 pitches in a simulated game. If Cook throws well and his right shoulder is pain- free, he could be in line to pitch Thursday against the Padres at Coors Field.
Manager Jim Tracy characterized Cook’s situation as “interesting.” If Cook were to rejoin the rotation Thursday, Jason Hammel would be pushed back a day and would pitch on six days’ rest.
“Does Cookie have a possibility of entering into the equation? Yes, he does,” Tracy said. “But from now up to (Thursday) will go a long way to making the decision if he’s that guy.”
Cook, out since Aug. 22, is eager to return.
“It’s been hard, but everybody else has been doing their part,” Cook said. “I’ve just tried to keep a positive attitude.”
Street sign.
Huston Street’s 2009 detour is about to end. The Rockies’ closer, out since Sept. 1 with biceps tendinitis, threw about 25 pitches in a simulated game Friday afternoon and emerged confident and pain-free. If the right situation arises Sunday, Street will pitch an inning, but it won’t be in the closer’s role.
“I feel great,” Street said, smiling. “There was no pain, no stiffness, and my velocity is good. I’m excited to get back.”
Tracy said he won’t shoehorn Street into action, but would like to get him some work.
“If something makes sense to test him out, we would do so,” Tracy said.
Footnotes.
Tracy believes Ian Stewart is beginning to look like the player who won NL player-of-the-week honors in early June. Stewart has a team-high five homers this month. However, he entered Friday hitting just 1-for-10 on the current road trip. . . . Even with Street on the shelf, the Rockies are tied with St. Louis for the second-best save percentage (76.4) in the National League.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
