SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. &mdash Rockies first basemen Todd Helton is not in the Rockies’ starting lineup for today’s Cactus League opener against Arizona in the first-ever game Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
However, Helton’s absence is no surprise.
With the Cactus League starting relatively early this year — it’s typically the beginning of March, not late February — manager Jim Tracy is in no hurry to rush his veterans into the lineup.
Ty Wigginton will start at first base, and he, like most of the other starters, won’t be around long. They will get one at-bat, or maybe two for a selected player or two. It makes sense considering the first fulll-squad workout was Wednesday.
“Some of the people that we’ll have participate in the early part of the game … it’s going to be somewhat of a cameo appearance,” Tracy said.
Helton may get an at-bat later in the game, but it’s not going to matter a month from now. By then, Helton, assuming he’s healthy, will have gotten in a significant number of at-bats.
Here’s the Rockies’ lineup for their spring opener:
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Seth Smith, RF
3. Carlos Gonzalez, LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Ian Stewart, 3B
6. Ty Wigginton, 1B
7. Jose Lopez, 2B
8. Chris Iannetta, C
9. Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP
