Todd Helton News

"First baseman Todd Helton, on the disabled list with lower back inflammation, will be working out with the Rockies when they return from the All-Star break. Trainer Keith Dugger said a second epidural Helton was given last week "hit the area. He is rid of the symptoms." Left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis, on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, came out of his 45-pitch bullpen session Saturday in good shape. Dugger said Francis will throw another bullpen session Thursday, after which a decision will be made on whether to have Francis throw live batting practice or go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment."

"Rockies first baseman Todd Helton will receive an epidural on Tuesday in hopes of relieving the back and leg pain that forced him onto the disabled list. He disputed, however, a report that he has numbness in his leg. "I have had a pain in the leg and my back locked up, so we felt it was time to address the issues," Helton said Monday. "I have never had any numbess. I don?t know there that came from.?? Helton had been battling leg problems since mid-June, straining a hamstring while the Rockies were playing the White Sox in Chicago, and he attempted to play through that because the Rockies were shorthanded. He said the hamstring and current leg problem are not related."

"A clearer picture of Todd Helton's back injury emerged Monday with the Rockies first baseman admitting that pain in his leg from a disc problem forced him onto the 15-day disabled list Friday. The new details create concern about when he might rejoin the club. "My leg began hurting and I've never had that before," Helton told The Denver Post. "So I'm going to get an epidural (today) and see how it feels after that. Until then, I just don't know what's next." His disc irritation is in a different area from where he usually feels chronic back discomfort. As a result, he will receive an acute epidural injection today. After the area calms down, a road map will be established for his ..."

"For nearly three weeks, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton tried to play through a lower back inflammation. It wasn?t working. Helton was placed on the disabled list Friday with lower back inflammation. Joe Koshansky, who is leading the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 78 RBI, was called up from Colorado Springs and will combine with Jeff Baker to fill the first base void. Helton, meanwhile, will see if several days of complete rest will calm down the flare-up of a back problem that he has battled for at least five years."

"Todd Helton spoke about the importance of health, about how hard it is to perform when hurt. "He needs to get rest and get right," Helton said. The first baseman was talking about pitcher Jeff Francis. He might as well have been describing his own plight. The pain not getting any better in his back, Helton, as signs pointed to Thursday, was placed on the disabled list today."

"Todd Helton was not in the lineup for the series opener against the Marlins because of a sore back, a chronic condition the veteran first baseman has been dealing with for years. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle did not use Helton off the bench during Thursday's 6-5, 11-inning victory, and Hurdle indicated Helton's status will be re-evaluated daily."

"Todd Helton is hurting. The Rockies first baseman was replaced in the eighth inning Wednesday by Jeff Baker. It's not unusual for Colorado to lift the 34-year- old Helton in the late inning of a blowout, but the Rockies were ahead of the Padres just 7-1 when Helton came out. After the game, Helton admitted that his problematic lower back is bothering him. "It's just worse than usual," he said. Helton, hitting .266, went 0-for-2 and walked twice."

"The singles hitter formerly known as slugger Todd Helton wore a black T-shirt and walked slowly through the Rockies clubhouse, past teammates he has repeatedly left on base and too often let down. The slumping Helton bats cleanup in the Colorado batting order on reputation, not merit. Something needs to change. How do you tell the best player in franchise history that at age 34 he lacks the oomph to generate the thump required by the heart of the Colorado batting order? This thorny issue is not easy to confront for Rockies manager Clint Hurdle or anyone who has watched Helton belt nearly 2,000 hits in his major-league career."

"Todd Helton's position in the lineup has become a hot topic. It's likely that he will be moved out of the cleanup spot based on what manager Clint Hurdle and Helton said last weekend. Helton is mired in a 9-for-49 slump and just completed a 3-for-19 homestand. Hurdle has never judged Helton on his power, but rather his ability to score and drive in runs. He's not doing either right now, so he could benefit from a switch. Moving him to second is a possibility, giving him even better pitches to hit with Matt Holliday behind him. As a temporary fix that reflects who's hot now, Hurdle could simply flip-flop Brad Hawpe and Helton, shifting Helton to sixth. It's not a permanent ..."

"It's simple. Jeff Baker's hot, Todd Helton's not. Plus, Helton has played in 70 of the Rockies' 71 games thus far. That's why Baker starts at first base tonight against the Indians and Helton watches from the bench. "We're giving Todd a day off, which I think is more than appropriate at this time," manager Clint Hurdle said."

"As recently as last week, Todd Helton wondered if he was allergic to RBIs. He knows he's not immune to criticism with the Rockies off to their worst start since the "Todd and the Toddlers" days of 2005. While many focus on his lacking muscle, he's on pace to hit 17 home runs, his average the past three seasons. Where he has come up short are in RBIs and extra-base hits. After 56 games, he projects to drive in a career- worst 61 runs and finish with just 49 extra-base hits, 11 shy of his previous low. "He knows how important he is to this team and this lineup," manager Clint Hurdle said Saturday. "He doesn't have to be a max home run guy. We need him to drive in runs and score runs ..."

"When a team is rolling, players can't wait to get to the ballpark. The foundering Rockies? Not so much. They were glad to get Thursday off before opening a three-game series tonight against the Mets. "I think the off day will help," Todd Helton said Wednesday after a disheartening 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Giants. "Hopefully it will recharge our battery a little bit, and we will be refocused and we can turn this thing around.""

"Todd Helton wasn't about to fight the rest. Manager Clint Hurdle did not start the first baseman Tuesday for only the second time this season. Helton, 34, has just three extra-base hits and three RBIs over his past 13 games. Helton said he understands when he's struggling, adding, "I don't know if I am (fatigued), but I know this can't hurt." Hurdle had planned to sit Helton even before Arizona decided to start left-hander Randy Johnson. Helton is 6-for-27 against left-handers this season and has yet to hit a home run on the road. He is reaching base at a .390 clip, though, a testament to his plate discipline."

"With his ballclub treading water, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle turned proactive before Saturday night's game against the Dodgers. He demoted second baseman Jayson Nix, moved Todd Helton up in the batting order and put struggling starter Ubaldo Jimenez on notice."

"It's a perfect, sun-splashed desert morning and Todd Helton is striding across the outfield grass at Hi Corbett Field. He's in a hurry to get to his workout and has little time to talk about his least-favorite subject — himself."

"Todd Helton's body language told the story. While going 0-for-3 in the Rockies' 4-1 victory over Seattle on Tuesday afternoon, Helton frequently took extra practice cuts, searching for his proper swing plane. When he grounded into a double play in the fourth, his frustration was evident."

"Manager Clint Hurdle is prepared to experiment with his lineup this spring, flip-flopping Matt Holliday and Todd Helton in the batting order. Holliday and Helton confirmed that Hurdle talked with them about the potential switch of moving Helton to the three hole and Holliday to cleanup, which could begin as soon as Wednesday's Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox."

"Todd Helton showed up at spring training a year ago with a bushy beard and a gloomy disposition. The beard, looking like it belongs on a Civil War general, remains. But Helton's mood, bolstered by the Rockies' World Series appearance and a memorable offseason, is decidedly sunnier."

"The Rockies aren't considering dealing the most recognizable face in franchise history. 'It's a complete non-issue,' Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said Thursday before departing the baseball meetings."

"Helton continued to speak softly and lead by example Sunday. He led off the second inning with the Rockies' first hit, a line drive into the left-field gap, and dived into second base."

"The Boston Red Sox are the World Series champions after a nervy 4-3 victory Sunday night at Coors Field. 'To get this close and not win, it's hard,' said first baseman Todd Helton, who waited 10 years to reach the playoffs."

"And Helton? Well, baseball's got hold of him, too, and you could say those quarterback days at Tennessee have something to do with it. Several weeks after inheriting the starting job in the wake of Colquitt's injury, the pride of Knoxville Central High School - a pure-bred Tennessee boy - got hurt, too. Thus did the door open for a wide-eyed, strong-armed freshman named Peyton Manning."

"Embarrassment? No, Todd Helton wouldn't go that far in describing the Rockies' 13-1 pratfall against the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday night at Fenway Park."

"The weird colors, which actually were in style for a few minutes in the 1990s, the CR on the hat, which takes a minute to figure out, is the only uniform Todd Helton has ever worn as a major leaguer."

"There was a time, you know, that the Tigers thought they were about to acquire Todd Helton for Tony Clark. The deal fell through."

"During the offseason, and into spring training, there were rumors that Colorado first baseman Todd Helton would be heading to Boston in a deal that would include incumbent Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis."

"The 24-year veteran missed another call Thursday night. In the fifth inning, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was grazed by a pitch from Brandon Webb. Helton headed toward first, but McClelland called him back, thinking the pitch missed Helton. Replays clearly showed the pitch nicked Helton's thigh."

"Considering he'd anticipated this day for a decade or more, there were two things that threw Todd Helton about the first playoff game of his career. 'For his first playoff hit to be a triple, no one probably would have guessed that,' said teammate Troy Tulowitzki."

"Helton, after 1,578 regular- season games, will be in his familiar roles of hitting cleanup and playing first base when the Rockies begin the postseason against the Phillies in Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park today in Philadelphia."

"Todd Helton wandered amid the champagne and beer sprays with the look of an accident victim, dazed and a little bit unbelieving. You could not help but wonder about the emotions he was experiencing."

"An hour after the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 9-8 in 13 innings Monday night, die-hard fans at Coors Field were chanting for Todd Helton to make a curtain call. They knew the face of the franchise deserved nothing less after making the playoffs after 10 long, often frustrating seasons."

"Along with his team, the perception of Helton has changed dramatically this month. As recently as mid-August, there were grumblings about whether Helton should hit cleanup or if the Rockies should consider trying to trade him again this winter."

"How do you like Todd Helton now? In a season of priceless memories, the $16.6 million salary being paid Helton by the Rockies has been worth every last dime."

"Tulowitzki's two-run home run in the sixth, and two critical RBI singles from Todd Helton, lifted the Rockies to a 9-7 victory on Tuesday, their ninth straight, equaling a 10-year-old franchise record."

"After 10 years of wondering what a September that matters would feel like, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton finally is finding out. It is, he said, as good as he ever imagined, and then some."

"Todd Helton, a five-time all-star, could become a star witness regarding Sunday's bizarre altercation between San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley and first-base umpire Mike Winters."

"The season's signature moment came Tuesday night, when veteran Todd Helton, camp counselor to the kid Rocks, hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep over the shellshocked Dodgers."

"For one day at Coors Field, nothing seemed impossible, no height unreachable, after Helton smashed a walkoff home run in a 9-8 victory, capping a doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers."

"Helton delivered the ending, two-run home run that lifted the Rockies to a 9-8 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on Tuesday night. The win completed a sweep of the day- night doubleheader to keep alive what playoff hopes the Rockies have."

"First and foremost, the Rockies pounded the Marlins 13-0 behind a shutdown performance from rookie left-hander Franklin Morales...But not as stirring as the 382-foot, three-run homer Helton launched in the fifth inning. It was the 300th homer of his career."

"'It's just more fingerprints on a very elite position in the game, and one that you knock on wood and pull for will end up in the Hall of Fame. He's what the game of baseball needs.' ... Manager Clint Hurdle on Todd Helton."

"It was Helton's 35th double, making him the first player to hit 35 doubles in 10 consecutive seasons. The old record was set by Tris Speaker, who did it nine straight times from 1919-27."

"The anniversary date will pass unnoticed next Thursday, but shouldn't be overlooked when analyzing this season. It will mark the 10-year anniversary of Todd Helton's major- league debut, a milestone he's hitting with a chance to finally play meaningful games in September for the first time."