Chicken Friars » Todd Helton

Scouting The Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Robert Moreno — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:05:04 +0000

Every series, we at Chicken Friars will ask the editor of the FanSided team the Padres are playing some questions. We call this segment Scouting The Opponent because we are asking the questions to get to know the opposition. For our this Scouting The Opponent segment, we interviewed Rox Pile Editor Hayden Kane.

Troy Tulowitzki has caught the injury bug the past few years. How’s his health going into 2013?

Apr 1, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) watches his 2-run home run in the 3rd inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA Today Sports

Word is that he is finally 100% healthy again after shutting it down last season to have surgery. Through spring training we received updates about Tulo’s ability to swing the bat, run the bases, and make the dipping and leaning plays that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from him. Those reports were all good news and he certainly appeared to be his old self, both offensively and defensively, in the opening series against the Brewers.

Will future hall of famer Todd Helton retire at season’s end?

Because Helton is not one for fanfare, he did not officially announce that this is his final season. By all accounts it is, and most fans seem ready to treat this as his farewell tour. He is still considered part of the starting lineup, but he will get plenty of rest with Michael Cuddyer, Jordan Pacheco, and eventually Tyler Colvin able to fill in at first base.

Walt Weiss has no managerial experience. Why in the world was he selected to manage the Rockies?

The interesting thing is that the Rockies front office actually sought him out for the open position. Their interest in Weiss seemed to be based on a combination of the following factors: the successes of Robin Ventura and Mike Matheny, a desire to re-connect with some of the key figures from the Rockies’ short history (Dante Bichette joined the staff as hitting coach as well), and a belief that Weiss’s down-to-business approach will resonate right away. The biggest thing Weiss has going for him is his connection to Tony LaRussa, who provided a ringing endorsement for Weiss and whom Weiss identifies as his mentor.

Yorvit Torrealba is back as a Rockie. Are fans excited to have him back?

Lukewarm excitement, I suppose. The most important contributions Torrealba can make will come in the clubhouse in the form of mentorship. Wilin Rosario‘s defense and game-calling must improve. In a word, Rosario’s defense was atrocious last season. Torrealba will try to help him and then reconnect with pitchers such as Jorge De La Rosa as they try to get back on track. If he can do those things, the fact that he is over the hill will matter less.

What’s the biggest issue surround Rockies camp?

Starting pitching. Starting pitching. And then starting pitching. The bullpen is quietly a really solid group. The offense, health pending, will produce a bunch of runs. None of that will matter if the starting pitching is historically bad again. Part of the problem last season was health and part of it was ineffectiveness. The Rockies need an immediate turnaround in both cases if they want to be relevant in 2013.

Todd Helton – Padre Killer

Robert Moreno — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:39:11 +0000

The Padres are playing much better baseball than a month ago. With last night’s win against the Houston Astros, the Padres showed they can provide some late inning heroics.

The Padres arrived in the Rocky Mountains looking to keep their momentum going, but Todd Helton may have something to say about that.

Todd Helton with RBI Single Chris Humphreys-US PRESSWIRE

The longtime Colorado Rockies first-baseman has made a living destroying the San Diego Padres. Helton is the Padre killer of all Padre killers.

Just look at his gaudy numbers against the Padres:

I	Split	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	IBB
	San Diego Padres	225	821	147	272	70	4	31	116	5	140	121	.331	.425	.540	.964	443	18	24

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/29/2012.

The future Hall of Famer has been reckless with the bat at the pitcher’s haven, Petco Park. Helton turns Petco Park into a hitter’s park to say the least.

But the Padres are playing this series in Coors Field. If you think the four-time Silver Slugger Award- winner had flashy numbers at Petco Park, then wait till you see the type of destruction he does at Coors Field.

In 1,071 career games played at Coors, Helton owns a .350 batting average, with 216 home runs, 813 RBI and a .615 slugging percentage.

The five-time All-Star may be 38 years old now, and may not play regularly, but he shows no signs of slowing down.

Helton isn’t just lethal with the bat; he has a great glove too. He has three Gold Gloves to prove it.

There is no way to beat Helton. The Padres just better hope he isn’t in the Rockies starting lineup. But if he comes up to pinch-hit, I’d give him an intentional walk, even if the bases are loaded. The Padres just have to do what they can to win.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Padres vs Rockies Game Recap: Jeff Suppan Gets Second Straight Win

Justin Hunter — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:18:15 +0000

The veteran stop gap Jeff Suppan is doing more than filling in. He’s winning ball games for a team that has struggled to win in general. In his 2012 debut last week, Suppan did not allow a run over five innings. Last night, he was almost as good, and allowed just one run in five innings of work. The Padres offense backed Suppan enough to pick up the 3-1 win.

Colorado got on the board first after a shaky start to the game for Suppan. Jordan Pacheco doubled, Carlos Gonzalez walked, and Todd Helton singled in the first run of the game for the Rockies. Suppan, however, quickly settled down and didn’t allow another run. He finished the game with five innings pitched, one run, four hits, and two walks.

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