Todd Helton, a prideful man whose number will one day adorn a wall at Coors Field, turns 38 today.
What to get for the birthday boy who has just about everything? Let’s start with something Helton isn’t particularly interested in: winning the National League comeback player of the year award.
Funny thing about that award. It’s nice to be recognized and all, but it means . . . well, it means you’re coming off a rough year. Helton certainly fits the bill after chronic back problems in 2010 made for the most difficult summer of his career.
“No . . . no,” said Helton, when a reporter mentioned that his name was in the conversation. “I don’t care. I don’t think I’ll win it, so . . .”
So who does he think will win it? Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman is the other name in the conversation. Helton said Berkman would get his vote.
“I think he’s had a real good year,” Helton said.
Berkman, who was willing to sign with the Rockies before landing in St. Louis, went into Friday tied for third in the league with 28 home runs and ranked seventh with 77 RBIs. Helton was hitting .310 and was on pace for 17 homers and 80 RBIs.
Troy Tulowitzki on his preseason expectations for Helton: “A lot of outside people were worried maybe about his skills, but that was never the case. He was injured. A healthy Todd Helton is a good player, and he’s shown that this year.”
Footnotes. Today is Tulowitzki bobblehead day at Coors Field. The gates open at noon, and the first 10,000 fans will receive bobblehead dolls of the Rockies shortstop. . . . Right-hander Alex White, a key piece to the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, will throw a bullpen session today at Coors Field and could join the rotation. Rockies manager Jim Tracy said a six-man rotation is one of the options being discussed. . . . Relievers Huston Street and Matt Lindstrom also will throw bullpen sessions today and expect to return on schedule from the 15-day disabled list. . . . Roving outfield and baserunning instructor Treni-dad Hubbard has joined the team for a few days. He will work with various players, most notably Dexter Fowler, who has been thrown out nine times in 17 steal attempts. Said Tracy: “That’s obviously one of the reasons he’s here. Dexter is obviously mindful of some of the things we want to build on with him.” . . . The Rockies are having a hard time keeping up with their neighbors in the NL West. Their loss Friday dropped them to 21-27 vs. the West. The Dodgers are 25-24.
Helton: A year older, a year better
Todd Helton, who turns 38 today, has rebounded from the back problems that led to a career-worst season in 2010. Here’s a look at Helton’s key hitting stats going into Friday compared with those from his entire 2010 season:
Year Gms AB R H 2B Total bases HR RBI Avg. OBP Slug pct.
2011 109 371 54 115 24 178 13 62 .310 .393 .480
2010 118 398 48 102 18 146 8 37 .256 .362 .367
