Todd Helton

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Watching Rockies /White Sox game on WGN Todd Helton sure looks alot different than he did a few years ago and his numbers are way down do you think he was juicing.
 
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http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110526&content_id=19625846&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
© 2011 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
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05/26/11 11:13 PM ET

Sarah's Take: Helton deserves to be in Hall

By*Sarah D. Morris*/*MLB.com

Spending his entire career with the Colorado Rockies, Todd Helton has become an icon in the Rocky Mountains region. Although he didn't begin his professional baseball career when the franchise entered the National League in 1993, he has played for every Rockies manager. He has been an offensive leader in baseball, and he has won three National League Gold Glove Awards. At 37, Helton is still one of the better first basemen in baseball and appears to have the rare opportunity to play with one organization for his entire career.
Born in Knoxville, Tenn., Helton excelled in football and baseball at the University of Tennessee. He lost his starting quarterback job to Peyton Manning.

Whereas most people associate Helton with offensive expertise, in college, he was an extraordinary left-handed pitcher. In 1995, he earned the Dick Howser Trophy as the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. The Rockies subsequently made him the eighth pick in the First-Year Player Draft.

Helton quickly rose through the Rockies' Minor League system. He had a single in his second Major League at-bat and also hit a home run in that game in August 1997. His incredibly rapid rise to the Rockies enabled the team to allow Andres Galarraga to become a free agent, saving the young organization much money.

Helton quickly became the face of the Rockies. His unassuming and professional manner made him immensely popular with the fans. Even though he had the fifth-most homers for a rookie in baseball history at that time, he didn't win the National League Rookie of the Year Award because Kerry Wood -- with his 20-strikeout game while pitching for the Cubs -- received more national recognition to earn the prestigious honor.

As a Dodgers fan, I hated when the Dodgers went to Coors Field, because they would use every pitcher to attempt to stop Colorado's offense and the games lasted forever. I didn't think any Rockies hitter should have been recognized for his great offensive performance because playing half of his games at Coors Field gave him an unfair advantage. However, now I realize all National League West players had an advantage by playing at least nine games at the hitters' paradise.

The Rockies should be applauded for recognizing that beautiful Coors Field had a problem and figuring out in 2002 that storing their baseballs in a room-sized humidor would help level the playing field. Even now, though, they get ridiculed for using the humidor. Last Wednesday, ESPN analyst Nomar Garciaparra questioned the legality of the humidor.

Denver is a mile above sea level, making the air thin and dry. Before I lived in a higher altitude than Denver, I didn't realize how dry the air was. Cool damp air found at PETCO Park, Dodger Stadium or AT&T Park provides greater resistance to the baseball, so homers are rarer.

On Sept. 17, 1996, then-Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo threw the first and only no-hitter at Coors Field on a cold rainy night. The increased humidity helped Nomo throw breaking pitches and made it difficult to hit homers.

The use of the humidor has enabled pitchers to experience some success at Coors Field. Although Coors still favors the hitters, it isn't the best offensive stadium in the NL anymore. In my opinion, superior hitters for the Rockies should have the same consideration for the National Baseball Hall of Fame as any other hitter in the Major Leagues.

During most of Helton's career, the Rockies have used the humidor, and his offensive statistics haven't decreased while Coors Field has used the humidor. From 2008-10, while battling a back injury, Helton didn't have much difference between his batting average at home or on the road.

Helton still is a great all-around first baseman, even though he missed a few games recently with a stiff back. The Rockies have struggled recently to get the timely hits needed to post more wins, but Helton has been the most consistent Rockie. Helton has been a doubles machine in 2011 and recently passed Lou Gehrig in all-time doubles.

What impresses me most about Helton is his defense. Despite having back problems, Helton still has incredible range. This has helped to prevent many hits. His tremendously strong and accurate throwing arm has enabled him to turn spectacular double plays. His ability to dig out bad throws and stay with high throws prevents errors for his fellow infielders. If he keeps playing defense the way he has this season, to me, Helton deserves another Gold Glove.

Helton has been a pillar of the Rockies and has the rare opportunity to spend his entire career with one organization. I believe Helton deserves to be in the Hall of Fame after his career ends.

Sarah D. Morris can be reached at sarahmorris27@gmail.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com
 

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