" By any measure, it's awkward.

Todd Helton is the greatest player in franchise history, but he won't be activated until Saturday at the earliest and only then if he proves he can swing without issues on a brief rehab assignment in Single-A Asheville.

"We are going to have him DH for a couple of games," manager Jim Tracy said.

Brad Hawpe, a potential long-term solution at first base beginning next season, hasn't hit much either.

Hawpe has three extra-base hits this month, and is on pace to finish with nine home runs. He has averaged 25 home runs over the previous four seasons. Tracy said he is seeing signs of progress absent of results.

"We are going to need more production going forward," Tracy said. "But I will say I have seen a much better offensive player recently than we were seeing for some period of time."

The Rockies' front office believes Hawpe is pressing offensively in his contract year. Colorado has a $10 million club option for next season, but it has no plans to pick it up. That wouldn't preclude the Rockies from re-signing Hawpe to a new deal, but he needs to produce.

The Rockies would like Helton, batting .246 with two home runs, to get about six at-bats to see how his back and legs respond. The 36-year-old agreed Wednesday night.

Tracy said it would compromise Helton if he returned against the next two starters, all-stars Josh Johnson and Roy Halladay.

"We need him to be right," Tracy said."