ARLINGTON, texas — He fights the issue daily: Will the Rockies first baseman be the Todd Helton of old or just an old Todd Helton?
The five-time all-star turns 39 on Aug. 20 as he’s grinding through a challenging season. He entered Friday with a .234 average, his lowest ever at this juncture. He had just two hits in his last 13 at-bats. For the fourth time this season he was dropped to sixth in the lineup.
“If I don’t start hitting, I will end up further down. I don’t have any problem with it,” Helton said. “I am not swinging the bat well right now. I have different thoughts going through my head, just too many of them. I need to get one thought and stick with it.”
Helton insists he’s healthy, his surgically repaired back is not hurting and he has strength in his legs. But there are nights that he looks like he’s fighting his body.
“I don’t feel good but I don’t feel bad. I am still physically able. That’s not the problem,” Helton said. “I need to start hitting the ball the other way and stay with that approach.”
Helton’s situation becomes tricky if he doesn’t heat up offensively.
Tyler Colvin, one of the team’s best offensive players, continues to struggle to get into the lineup if only used in the outfield. Colvin, 3-for-11 on the road trip, didn’t start Friday.
Herrera rejoins team. Needing to spell Marco Scutaro at shortstop, the Rockies activated Jonathan Herrera and shipped out DJ LeMahieu. Herrera started at shortstop and will play there again today.
“Playing there is exciting because you are in the middle of everything,” Herrera said.
Footnotes Juan Nicasio threw a bullpen session Friday and will face hitters soon. … Troy Tulowitzki walked a mile as he begins his gradual recovery from left groin surgery. … Third baseman Jordan Pacheco, bothered by a sore right quad, will return to the lineup today.
