"The similarities are chilling. But the differences are telling.

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is dealing with back pain. That sentence is usually followed by the mention of a magnetic resonance imaging test, or a trip to the disabled list. Helton hasn't reached that point because this is not the same injury that sabotaged him last June.

Helton's back locked up on the right side Friday, an injury he traces to a hard slide at second base against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Last season, his back ached on the left side, sapping his strength in his back and legs.

"It's not the same thing. I still feel strong. That obviously wasn't the case last season," Helton said.

Nonetheless, Helton didn't start for the fourth consecutive game Monday. He took batting practice, hitting a few home runs, and fielding groundballs. He flew out to center field as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. The reality is if the Rockies entered Monday 2-6 instead of 6-2, Helton might have been placed on the DL to retrieve another bat from Triple-A. But the Rockies can afford to be patient because they have legitimate replacement options in veterans Ty Wigginton and Jason Giambi to play first base.

"I am not going to go out and just survive. When I get back in there, I need to be able to do damage," said the 37-year-old Helton, who is hitting .263 with a home run. "Ten years ago, I could just survive and be fine. It's not like that anymore. I have to be smart.""