PITTSBURGH — Here’s how quickly Todd Helton’s lower back problems can re-emerge: One minute, Helton was hitting fifth in the Rockies’ lineup on Friday night, the next minute, he was in the trainer’s room.
“I was just out there running and I took a step and it locked up,” Helton said. “I think we’ll know more (today). I’m sore, more sore than I’d rather be, but I did the same thing in spring training and it took a couple of days. So, we’ll see.”
If it were any other Rockie, this might be a minor issue. But it isn’t. It’s Helton, whose career has spiraled because of a balky back. How worried is he?
“I’ll be worried (today) if I don’t feel some improvement,” Helton said. “I’m not worried yet. I’ve just got to make sure when I come back, I’m strong and ready to go.”
Given how things played out last year, when tests on Helton’s back landed him on the disabled list for almost a month, it’s conceivable he could return to Denver for more tests if his back doesn’t improve by today.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy, on Helton’s situation: “I can’t really answer that question this minute. Quite frankly, it’s going to be somewhat touch-and-go over the next couple of days.”
The prospect of Helton landing on the 15-day disabled list “isn’t even a point of discussion,” Tracy said. “We’re not even close to that.” Finger food for thought.
The good news for the Rockies is that none of their pitchers have arm problems. The bad news is that some of them can’t seem to shake finger problems.
Aaron Cook is on the DL with a broken finger after slamming his hand in a door at spring training. Ubaldo Jimenez is disabled with a cut on the cuticle of his right thumb. Then there’s Jorge De La Rosa, pulled after five innings on Friday with a recurring blister on his left middle finger.
De La Rosa was pulled from his season debut for the same reason after 5 1/3 innings. But even after back-to-back abbreviated starts, the team is sticking with its no-big-deal response to De La Rosa’s situation.
“I’m fine,” De La Rosa said. “It’s about the same. It will be fine for my next start. It’s happened before.”
Yes, De La Rosa has had blister issues before, but not to this extent. To wit: He has been pulled in his last two starts with blister problems. How many times in his career has that happened?
“Twice,” he said.
Footnotes.
Ian Stewart, out of the lineup again with flu-like symptoms after missing much of spring training with knee and hamstring problems: “I just want to get feeling good so I can get something rolling.” . . . By the numbers: 27. That’s how many pitches Huston Street threw in three innings against the Pirates on Friday night, five fewer than he needed for a one-inning save against the Diamondbacks at Coors Field. . . . Jimenez is expected to throw a bullpen session today after playing long toss Friday. All signs point to him being able to pitch by April 17.
Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
