"Forget his private plane and Las Vegas nightclub. Here's how you know Jason Giambi is a big deal with the Rockies: First baseman Todd Helton endorsed his return, and Troy Tulowitzki demanded that Giambi's locker be placed next to his, both here and during the regular season.

"My at-bats got so much better with him on the team. He relaxed me and put me in a better state of mind, reminding me that I don't need to carry the team," Tulowitzki said. "I can't tell you how much he helped me."

Thumb through the Rockies' history and it's hard to find a bench player with more cachet than Giambi. He's a former American League MVP, and he still grinds out at-bats with such intensity that manager Jim Tracy nicknamed him "The Gladiator," referencing Russell Crowe's character in the movie.

That's where Giambi won over Helton last September. Everyone knows Helton hates days off. It's how he's wired, and he never completely trusted his backups in years past. His respect for Giambi, however, is such that he asked him to come back during the offseason, and told him there would be enough at-bats to make it worth it.

"That was huge to hear that from Todd. He's getting older, and he's coming off back surgery. And I know he wants to be strong at the end of the season," said Giambi, who received interest from the Twins before they signed Jim Thome to serve as a designated hitter.

"This could be a way to extend both of our careers."

In his last 20 at-bats with the Rockies last season, Giambi knocked in 11 runs. He won multiple games with pinch hits. But he plays only first base, and hits left-handed, so Colorado wasn't sure he would fit this year's roster."