March 2009
Rockies’ Helton Returns To Old Form This Spring
September 18, 2007
Bottom of the ninth, two strikes, two outs.
With the Rockies barely clinging to any chance of a playoff run, Todd Helton did what was necessary.
The veteran let loose with a dramatic walk-off home run, arguably one of the most emotional home runs in franchise history, to keep the team in the playoff hunt.
He lifted his teammates onto his back and carried them through the next 20 games (19 wins), clinching the Wild Card and sweeping their way to the World Series.
September 18, 2008
One year later and Todd Helton’s season was already finished as he began to prepare for offseason back surgery.
Over the winter, nearly every fan from Colorado was at Helton’s neck, bashing him and saying that he couldn’t come back. “He’s too old,” “the surgery is hard to overcome,” “he needs to retire and give back his money,” were all responses.
March 8, 2009
Todd Helton returns to the lineup with a towering 450-foot home run in his first at-bat since the surgery.
Perhaps the greatest player to ever don a Rockies’ uniform, Helton has shown that he is back this spring.
A lifetime .328 hitter with 310 career home runs in 12 seasons, Helton’s aging back began to wear on him in 2008, causing him to miss nearly half of the season and hit below .300 for the first time in any full season of his career.
Despite the concern of whether his surgically-repaired back can withstand an entire season of play, Helton has shown his critics that he is back to his old form and ready to compete again.
In 12 games this spring, Helton has hit .515 with an on-base percentage of .568 and a slugging percentage of 1.000. In 33 at-bats, the veteran has converted 17 into hits, including four doubles, four home runs, and 14 RBI.
Helton is among a list of players with four home runs this spring training. However, of those players sitting ahead of him, only three players have hit a home run more often than Helton. The smooth-swinging lefty has hit a home run once every 8.25 at bats this spring.
Helton and the Rockies beat up on the Diamondbacks Monday afternoon in the Rockies’ final home spring training game.
The first baseman was the root of the explosive offense, going 4-4, and raising his batting average above .500. He currently ranks fourth among all players this spring with more than 10 at-bats.
Helton is here to prove that he can return to his old form.
Let’s hope that he can carry the Rockies to the playoffs again. This time, though, please, don’t put all the weight on your new back.
This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.
Colorado Rockies Remain Aggressive on Bases
They’re not a team made up of speed, but they’re showing aggressiveness.
“What you don’t want to see is to have this type of program in spring training and then drop back to Plan B in the regular season,” manger Clint Hurdle said. “We can’t afford to do that. We’ve got to stay aggressive and look to pick up 90 feet whenever we can, with whoever is on base.”
In 2008, speedy Willy Taveras led the major leagues with 68 stolen bases. It stands as quite an accomplishment, especially considering he posted just a .308 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter.
His offensive struggles kept him from a spot with Colorado in 2009.
Hurdle made it an immediate emphasis this spring to be more aggressive and steal more bases.
As of Sunday, four Rockies rank among the MLB’s top 50 this spring in stolen bases. The team as a whole ranks second in the MLB with 36 bags, behind only the young Rays with 38.
This doesn’t mean that they are the quickest team out there. The Rockies have been caught stealing 18 times, which is tied for first.
What it does mean is that they are being aggressive and attempting to steal more bags than any other team.
Despite ranking among the top teams in 2008 with 141 stolen bases, the Rockies were not a team full of speed. The team’s top two players based on stolen bases are no longer with the team (Taveras and Matt Holliday). Out of the rest of the team, only four players successfully stole more than two bases–Clint Barmes with 13, Scott Podsednik with 12, Ryan Spilborghs with seven, and Jeff Baker with four.
The Rockies had one player with speed, but not an entire team that could catch an opposing pitcher off guard.
Speed can be an essential element to the game.
In 2007, Taveras and Kaz Matsui led the charge for Colorado with a strong 1-2 punch. With the two players at the top of the lineup, it became a key component to scoring early runs.
There were multiple games where Taveras would get on base to start the game, steal second and then either score on a Matsui base hit, or move over to third on a groundout. This would bring the heart of the order to the plate with just one out and a runner 90 feet away from scoring.
Other times, the top of the order was even successfully able to steal both second and third base during the same at-bat, allowing the runner to score on a base hit or sacrifice fly and giving the Rockies the lead two batters into the game.
Team speed was something that the Rockies missed last season, and in result, their offense never got going.
Let me reemphasize that 2009′s team is still not a team made up of speed.
No player on the current team has stolen more than 15 bases in a single season and the team leader for most career stolen bases is Todd Helton, who has a modest 36 in 12 seasons.
What this team is, however, is a team that’s willing to take that extra step while leading off in order to get a good jump off of a pitch or maybe two bases on a base hit.
If the Rockies keep up their spring pace, they will successfully steal 216 bases in 2009. That stat would rank first among any team this decade.
I think Hurdle is on track with being aggressive on the bases. There might be times where it hurts the team, but I think that in the end, it will pay off.
Hall of Famer Joe Morgan once said, “Whether you steal or not, you’re changing the rhythm of the game. If the pitcher is concerned about you, he isn’t concentrating enough on the batter.”
This article is also featured on Bleacher Report
Colorado Rockies Have Plenty Of Depth: Now Is The Time To Trade Atkins
Trade Garrett Atkins?
Many probably think I’m crazy for this statement. Perhaps I am.
After trading away the club’s star player (Matt Holliday) and losing the best closer (Brian Fuentes) in team history over the offseason, it’s easy to assume that trading Atkins, arguably one of the team’s most talented players, means throwing away the season for the Rockies.
And although I’m not one of the rare few who support the front office’s plan of building from within and starting over once those players become too good and too expensive, I think that trading Atkins could bring some positives to the team.
Without a doubt, pitching has been the Rockies’ biggest struggle for as long as I can remember. With Jeff Francis missing all of 2009, this year is no different.
Even without Holliday and Willy Tavares, the outfield is stacked. Brad Hawpe and Ryan Spilborghs will be starters, while prospect Dexter Fowler is trying to prove that he’s also big-league ready. Seth Smith, Matt Murton, Scott Podsednik, Carlos Gonzalez and even Ian Stewart and Jeff Baker are also viable options.
In 2008, the Rockies used more second baseman than I can count on one of my hands. Despite the fact that none of them have stepped into the shoes that Kaz Matsui left in 2007, there is depth at the position.
Troy Tulowitzki is a lock at short stop, and many of the second baseman can shift to play either middle infield position when he needs rest.
Todd Helton will get the first look at first base, but with his unstable lower back, it is uncertain how much or how often he will play in 2009. Behind him, the Rockies could use Joe Koshansky as the primary starter.
Baker, a very versatile player, has experience at first base, while Christian Colonel, who is having a very impressive spring, will be waiting in the minors.
Chris Iannetta has more than earned the starting catching role, and although Yorvit Torrealba wants out of his contract with Colorado, teams aren’t showing interest in paying his remaining salary, meaning the Rockies will have a veteran catcher with plenty of experience coming off the bench.
That brings us to Garrett Atkins and third base.
Don’t get me wrong, Atkins is a proven player with a lot of talent. His career batting average is right around .300, he has plenty of power and his defense is on the rise.
It may seem foolish to trade a star, but that’s what makes this idea work. Stars draw interest.
Stewart has proven that he is more than ready to start for the Rockies this year. He greatly improved towards the end of 2008 and has been playing solid all spring. Not to mention that his defense would be a step up, and that he is still just 23 years old and still improving.
The Rockies need to get him in the lineup.
Atkins will most likely be gone after this season with his contract ending, so it would be ideal to get some value for him.
It doesn’t matter how we get it, but the fact is, the Rockies need starting pitching.
As shown, there is quality depth at nearly every position, which should draw interest. Many of these players are ready for the big leagues, there’s just no room for them.
Who knows, there might not be teams that are willing to give up their top arms, but it doesn’t hurt to at least give it a shot and see what’s out there. There are several teams that are in need of a third baseman.
The Rockies have plenty of talent to replace Atkins. Losing him and gaining solid starting pitching will only improve the team.
A Day At HoHoKam Park
I decided back in January that I would go down to Arizona to visit a couple friends that go to Arizona State University over my spring break. There was one catch, however. I told them that if I was going to make a trip to Arizona in the middle of March, I had to be guaranteed at least one spring training game.
I live for baseball. It’s what gets me through each day during the spring, summer, and fall. So during the long, cold Colorado winters, I get a little antsy. It had been five and a half months since witnessing my last live baseball game.
As a child, my family and I would sometimes go to Tucson to see the Rockies in spring training action, and a few times, my baseball team would even practice down there in the mornings and then we would go to games in the afternoon.
But with eight years in between March visits to Arizona, I was more than eager to see the Chicago Cubs host the San Francisco Giants last Wednesday afternoon.
I had heard great things about HoHoKam Park, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. The stadium is beautiful, featuring my favorite type of seating, the outfield grass. I really like the idea of choosing your spot, laying a blanket down on the grass, and just sitting back and enjoying the game. Not to mention, the price can’t be beat.
My friends were surprised when they realized I wasn’t joking by the fact that I take a spring training game as an “all-day event.”
We got there early and I got to witness batting practice and pre-game drills on the practice fields. Even over the years, the players are still as personable at spring training as I remembered as a child. The drills were intertwined with players signing autographs, tossing balls to kids, even broken bats, posing for pictures, and joking around.
Spring training is a whole different atmosphere.
Inside the park, I was amazed by the energy by the Cubs fans. Sure, everyone knows about the Chicago die-hards who are convinced that “this year is the year,” but for a spring training game, I was quite impressed.
I salute you Cubs fans.
The place holds 13,074, with all but 50 of those seats accounted for Wednesday afternoon. The stadium is known for sellouts and leads the Cactus League in attendance. Even before the game, cars were backed up for more than a half-mile coming from each direction trying to turn into the stadium parking lot.
Many fans, including ourselves, parked a little off the premises and walked. The walk was filled with singing, chanting, and drinking Cubs fans, and featured memorabilia vendors outside the stadium with Cubs flags waving.
I was greeted immediately upon entering HoHoKam gates by Bob Brenly, a current Cubs broadcaster and former player and manager, leading the 2001 Diamondbacks to a World Series championship. Baseball greats George Foster and Rollie Fingers were also on hand, and constant “woos” were heard throughout the game by the Cubs’ greatest fan, Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers.
What I Liked:
The fans and the energy. It was evident that people were enjoying themselves–joking around in the grass, kids running around, chasing each other with squirt guns, and both genders working on their tans and just enjoying a game of baseball. The seventh inning stretch is even a big deal for Cubs’ fans in spring training. A fan is selected each game to lead the crowd in singing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
I got to see Tim Lincecum pitch. Despite being from Colorado and seeing predominantly NL West games, I had never seen the kid pitch. He kind of got slammed by the Cubs offense, but nonetheless, six of his 11 outs were through strikeouts. He’s fun to watch.
I haven’t followed the short career of Joey Gathright too closely, but he was another player that I enjoyed watching. He went 2-4 in the game, reaching base three times and showing his speed by stealing second, his sixth stolen base of the year at the time. Sitting out near center field, I got to see him interact with the crowd in between innings, and he even threw a ball our way after warming up in the fourth inning. I fought my way through the crowd and proudly spilled a guy’s beer in order to catch the ball.
By the fifth inning–with the home team leading 5-0–the sun was beginning to wear on my friends who had so kindly joined me at the game. The temperature was in the 80s all game, and let me add, my friends are not baseball fans–I know, shame on them.
They pestered me about leaving the game early and even bribed me by saying they would buy me ice cream on the way home. Not uh. No way. I traveled from Colorado to Arizona for what, five innings of baseball? The least they could do is let me enjoy an entire nine inning game.
They did, and it all ended up turning out OK. The Giants came back and scored five runs in the ninth inning to win it 8-6. The game featured 24 combined hits, three home runs and two triples.
There’s nothing better than a refreshing day at the ballpark. It’s almost here at last.
Spring Training Guide: Hi Corbett Field
Baseball fans will experience 158 days of withdrawal between the Philadelphia Phillies’ initial World Series clinch and the time that the opening pitch is thrown to begin the 2009 season.
In order to witness the action early and ditch the harsh Colorado weather, Rockies fans everywhere can travel to the beautiful Tucson, Arizona to catch baseball at its finest, at Hi Corbett Field.
History:
Built in 1937, Hi Corbett Field is the oldest ballpark in the Cactus League. Originally named Randolph Municipal Baseball Park, it was later renamed to honor Hiram Stevens Corbett, a former Arizona senator who was a major part of bringing spring training to Tucson. Hi Corbett originally housed the Cleveland Indians.
In addition to being the spring home of the Colorado Rockies, Hi Corbett has been the home field for many minor league baseball teams over the years.
The stadium has been where the Rockies play their home games since the team’s expansion prior to the 1993 season.
Besides being served as a baseball field, the entire complex that Hi Corbett is located inside, Gene C. Reid Park, features a zoo, an aquatic center, two municipal golf courses and a popular concert venue.
The outside of the complex is a unique beige stucco design while the
Rincon and Santa Rita Mountains are visible in the distance of the outfield from all seats.
Tickets and parking:
Ticket prices for games at Hi Corbett are very affordable and a great way to witness a quality baseball experience. Ticket prices range from $4-17.
The cheapest tickets are found in section T of the stadium, known as the “Sandpile,” a takeoff of the Rockpile at Coors Field (Rockies home stadium for regular season games). The $4 Sandpile tickets are the cheapest seats in the entire Cactus League.
Other ticketing information:
The Rockies’ dugout is located on the first base side, near sections A-J, AA, and DD.
All seats have backs to allow comfort.
A patio is located along the left field line, popular for its tables with umbrellas and food.
No seats at Hi Corbett are obstructed, but make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. Nearly all areas of the ballpark will be hit hard by the Arizona sunshine.
Parking is free, but limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, when the lot fills up (which it will), fans will be redirected to the El Con Mall, located a half-mile away. Complimentary shuttles are available to transport fans to the stadium and back to their vehicles.
Capacity and field dimensions:
Hi Corbett Field seats 8,665 fans while its outfield wall dimensions read: 366 feed to left field, 392 to center and 348 to right field. Center field features a mini “Green Monster” wall because of its 35 foot height.
Fun facts:
Hi Corbett Field featured the first ever spring training game between Major League teams.
For those who enjoy watching sports movies, you may recognize Hi Corbett field from the film Major League. The 1989 film used Hi Corbett for all of its spring training scenes.
Seventy-four members of baseball’s Hall of Fame have played at Hi Corbett Field, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Ted Williams. Each players’ name is engraved on the Wall of Fame, located on the concourse behind home plate.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox also play their home games in Tucson. They play at Tucson Electric Park, located just minutes away from Hi Corbett Field.
In addition, the Rockies will host many American League teams most fans generally don’t get to see, including: Anaheim Angels, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers. The Rockies also played host to the Mexico team from the World Baseball Classic in an exhibition game earlier this month.
Autographs:
As a young child, there is no greater feeling than getting the chance to meet and receive an autograph from your favorite baseball player–essentially, your idol. Hi Corbett makes every intention to fulfill those child-like dreams.
With great opportunities for autographs along the right field line, while players play catch prior to games, the prime spot for autographs and live balls is the practice fields, located just outside of the stadium.
The four practice fields are often-times used for batting practice and drills several hours before games, and players are almost always willing to take time to sign a ball or meet a fan. The stadium opens two hours before game time, but fans can arrive to the practice fields prior to that in order to have more opportunities to watch and meet the players.
The athletes are much more willing to sign autographs at spring training than any other time in the year. Even some of the big-named stars will even sign on a consistent basis.
In addition, fans choosing to stick around after the game can sometimes catch a player leaving the stadium and walking to their vehicles. The gate is located along the first base line.
Food at the park:
Without a doubt, the most popular food choice served at Hi Corbett is the Rockie Dog. A famous, fresh footlong hot dog served with unlimited condiments, the Rockie Dog makes fans feel like they’re back at Coors Field.
In addition, the ballpark serves a variety of traditional ballpark foods plus multiple Mexican food options.
A variety of beer is always on tap in addition to Coca-Cola fountain drinks.
Where to stay:
There are multiple hotels located within two miles of Hi Corbett Field. The closest hotels are Doubletree, Clarion Hotel and Lodge on the Desert, all located on Alvernon Way.
What else to do:
A plentiful amount of restaurants area also located within a mile of the ballpark. A few of them are fast food chains, but many are unique Mexican restaurants that add to one’s Arizona vacation. Rubio’s, Tacos Don Juan, Las Brasas, and Mariscos Chihuahua are all popular venues located on either Broadway Boulevard or East 22nd Street.
Many, however, consider Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen one of the best Arizona offers. Famous for its chimichangas, tacos, and enchiladas, Macayo’s has been a tradition since 1946.
Tucson is the second largest city in the state of Arizona and is full of several clubs, bars and nightlife.
If you have time to squeeze in more than baseball, other ideas to finish your trip include hiking Sabino Canyon, walking through Old Tucson Studios, visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, witnessing the beautiful San Xavier Mission or touring the nearby University of Arizona campus.
Final thoughts:
Hi Corbett is considered by many, the most intimate spring training site in all of baseball. It has been compared to fields like Wrigley Field, not for its architectural structure, but instead for its rich history. The comfortable Tucson weather allows fans to get away from the Colorado winter and get a first glimpse of how their team is shaping up.
The prices are very affordable and the access to the players is remarkable. There are still many uncertainties regarding the 2009 Rockies’ lineup, so you’ll want to make sure that you get the chance to see the players fighting for roles first-hand.
Grab your closest friends, family, or fellow baseball fans and take a weekend trip to Hi Corbett Field–the most intimate spring training ballpark.
Rockies Will Bounce Back Despite Early Spring Troubles
It’s amazing what one week can do. Seven simple days and it seems like half of the Rockies’ fan-base jumped off the bandwagon after a winless first week in Tucson.
The defeats can be looked at one of two ways:
1) It was the first week of spring training – the rustiness is understandable and the team still has plenty of time to work out their kinks
2) Or others could say, yes, it is only spring training, but it is also only spring training for the teams that are beating the Rockies.
Despite a week of frustration, I choose the first option.
As other writers have shown, there are several factors that could have been a reason behind all of the first-week losses. Pitchers were instructed to throw primarily, if not all, fastballs. Hitters were required to take the first pitch. Base runners were overly aggressive on the base paths.
And let’s not forget the early injuries. Players like Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Ian Stewart, Jeff Baker, and Taylor Buchholz all missed parts, if not all, of the early games. In addition, Ryan Spilborghs left camp after the death of his mother.
The point is, yes, the Rockies struggled last week. And yes, signs show that they will probably struggle at other points during the spring.
Several of the early injuries aren’t serious and the players are back in the lineups, becoming contributing factors to the team’s offensive numbers. Todd Helton quieted his naysayers with a 450-foot shot in his first at-bat after having back surgery over the offseason.
And the Rockies’ bats are finally coming along, with Garrett Atkins leading the way with a .438 batting average as of Friday morning.
Ubaldo Jimenez had a strong final outing before leaving for the World Baseball Classic and was dominant, striking out 10 and allowing no runs in four innings in his start against the Netherlands.
Chris Iannetta, although also currently away from the team, showed the nation his power with four RBI and a three-run double in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night and a home run on Wednesday.
No, the Rockies aren’t at their prime. Todd Helton will still have to play precariously, there are still issues with the rotation and there will be hiccups throughout the season without a doubt.
But the team has started to show improvement in turning things around. After dropping their first seven games (eight unofficially), they started a modest six-game winning streak, climbing their way back into the standings.
It’s still early. There’s no need to hop off yet.
World Baseball Classic: A Good Idea At A Bad Time
Derek Jeter. Jason Bay. Alex Rodriguez. David Ortiz. Ichiro Suzuki.
This is a list of just a few of the hundreds of players who have been invited to play in the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Many of the players invited have accepted the invitation to represent their respective country.
The 2009 WBC is less than a week away from premiering.
From March 5-23, numerous MLB players will leave their spring training camps and join the rest of their country in the WBC.
Starting in 2006, 16 different countries around the world compete against each other to determine the world’s greatest baseball country. This year’s event, much like the Olympics, will be the second installment of the Classic, with it reoccurring every four years after 2009.
I love the fact that players get the chance to compete for their country rather than a team, but not when it occurs at a time where players have to leave their teams for an extended period of time just weeks before the start of the season in order to play.
Many MLB managers give their players the ultimate decision on whether they compete in the WBC, but advise against it.
Teams worry about the possibility of one of their star players getting injured at the WBC and being unable to start the season with their team.
The bigger issue, in my mind, is the fact that players are breaking terms in their contracts.
Players have large monetary contracts and they need to earn them. By playing in the WBC, players are missing several weeks of valuable preparation.
I understand that players will be honing their baseball skills while competing, but there is more to it than just polishing your skills of the game–you can do that all winter. It’s about forming chemistry with your teammates so that by the time April rolls around, the team is ready to compete together.
We all have seen clubhouses without bonds between the players.
Players are expected and required to be at spring training.
The WBC is competition that spans across 19 days. Players competing for Team USA are allowed to practice one week before the event, which would mean that players could miss close to four weeks of spring training.
This would bring them back to their teams less than two weeks before Opening Day with a lot of catching up to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the idea of the World Baseball Classic as a whole. Anything that gives exposure to the sport across a larger audience around the entire world is going to help the game grow.
The WBC allows players to represent, play for, and fight for their country rather than the team that they have been bought by.
It brings out a sense of passion among some players that isn’t always seen in the MLB today. Much like you see in Little League, it is a passion that you are representing something much bigger than yourself.
With that being said, however, players need to seriously consider whether or not they accept their invitation to play in the WBC.
This can be seen with the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies are relying heavily on their young starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, in 2009.
Many scouts believe that he has potential to become a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. In 2008 he posted a 12-12 record with a 3.99 ERA. He showed bright spots, but also much inconsistency.
With Jeff Francis out for most, if not all, of 2009, the Rockies need Jimenez to step up in their rotation.
Jimenez will be representing the Dominican Republic in the WBC, however.
In his first spring training appearance, Jimenez struggled, to say the least. In two innings, he allowed three earned runs, three hits, two walks, and a hit batsmen, posting a 13.5 ERA.
On Sunday afternoon he battled back, allowing just a single hit in three innings pitched, but that was his final spring training appearance before leaving for the WBC.
With the Rockies relying so heavily on him this season, I believe that it is more vital for him to be with the club this spring.
Players will get at-bats and playing time at the WBC, but it is not guaranteed how much they will play. They are falling behind by not being with their teams during spring training and also potentially falling behind on playing time and at-bats.
The WBC is a good way of bringing an Olympic-style of competition back to the game of baseball, but it comes at the wrong time. Players that represent the MLB have other things to worry about during the last few weeks leading up to their season and need to focus on that as opposed to the WBC.
MLBlogsNicHallisey
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