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May 1—Todd Helton, Hall of Famer and Colorado Rockies legend, has something to say about this year's Albuquerque Isotopes.
"I see a lot of drive. I see hunger. I see guys wanting to soak up every ounce of information to make themselves better," he said Thursday at Isotopes Park ahead of the Triple-A squad's day game against the Salt Lake Bees.
Helton, now a special assistant to Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt, is tasked with helping guide Colorado's minor-league affiliates — including the Isotopes. He called the opportunity rewarding.
"For me, it's to see their success, to see them move up a league, just to watch them get through the battles that I went through," Helton said of what in his job motivates him. "It's great to see young kids get better ... some of them look like real baseball players."
Helton played 267 games over three seasons with Rockies single-A, double-A and triple-A affiliates before getting called up to the majors. Then, the first baseman embarked on a 17-year career in the majors, winning three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers and making five All-Star teams. So, when Helton talks, players listen.
"I would tell them (the minor-leaguers) to not to take anything for granted, somebody's always watching," Helton said. "Go out there with the attitude that this video is going to be seen by a lot of people."
Two Isotopes players that have caught Helton's eye are center fielder Sam Hilliard and shortstop Ryan Ritter.
Hilliard, who has bounced around between the majors and minors, has thrived in Albuquerque, becoming the city's all-time home run king last week. On Thursday, he hit a single and double to extend his on-base streak to 29 games and raise his average to .280.
Ritter, meanwhile, is working through a cold stretch. He's hitless in his last four games and batting .216. But Helton sees star potential.
"I love Ryan Ritter. He's a guy that I can see making it to the next level and having an impact," Helton said.
In fact, the last time Helton stepped into the batter's box in Albuquerque, he looked a lot more like Ritter than Hilliard. According to Journal sports archived box scores, Helton, then a member of the Sky Sox, played the Albuquerque Dukes in a four-game series in June 1997. He went 4-17 at the plate (.235 average), with one double, one RBI, three runs scored and one error. The Dukes won the series, 3-1.
Obviously, that one series didn't set a tone for his career. And that's the message Helton is trying to impart.
"Everybody's going to struggle in the game of baseball," he said. "Everybody sits part of the game. Instead of (players having) a two-week slump, I'm here to help so they can keep it down to four or five days."
And the Isotopes have some players in need of turning things around. The team has lost six of its past seven games, including Thursday's 8-3 defeat to Salt Lake, to drop to 12-18 and second to last in the 10-team Pacific Coast League.
Maybe a little Helton hustle and clubhouse wisdom is just what this team needs to shift momentum.
—
Continue reading...
"I see a lot of drive. I see hunger. I see guys wanting to soak up every ounce of information to make themselves better," he said Thursday at Isotopes Park ahead of the Triple-A squad's day game against the Salt Lake Bees.
Helton, now a special assistant to Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt, is tasked with helping guide Colorado's minor-league affiliates — including the Isotopes. He called the opportunity rewarding.
"For me, it's to see their success, to see them move up a league, just to watch them get through the battles that I went through," Helton said of what in his job motivates him. "It's great to see young kids get better ... some of them look like real baseball players."
Helton played 267 games over three seasons with Rockies single-A, double-A and triple-A affiliates before getting called up to the majors. Then, the first baseman embarked on a 17-year career in the majors, winning three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers and making five All-Star teams. So, when Helton talks, players listen.
"I would tell them (the minor-leaguers) to not to take anything for granted, somebody's always watching," Helton said. "Go out there with the attitude that this video is going to be seen by a lot of people."
Two Isotopes players that have caught Helton's eye are center fielder Sam Hilliard and shortstop Ryan Ritter.
Hilliard, who has bounced around between the majors and minors, has thrived in Albuquerque, becoming the city's all-time home run king last week. On Thursday, he hit a single and double to extend his on-base streak to 29 games and raise his average to .280.
Ritter, meanwhile, is working through a cold stretch. He's hitless in his last four games and batting .216. But Helton sees star potential.
"I love Ryan Ritter. He's a guy that I can see making it to the next level and having an impact," Helton said.
In fact, the last time Helton stepped into the batter's box in Albuquerque, he looked a lot more like Ritter than Hilliard. According to Journal sports archived box scores, Helton, then a member of the Sky Sox, played the Albuquerque Dukes in a four-game series in June 1997. He went 4-17 at the plate (.235 average), with one double, one RBI, three runs scored and one error. The Dukes won the series, 3-1.
Obviously, that one series didn't set a tone for his career. And that's the message Helton is trying to impart.
"Everybody's going to struggle in the game of baseball," he said. "Everybody sits part of the game. Instead of (players having) a two-week slump, I'm here to help so they can keep it down to four or five days."
And the Isotopes have some players in need of turning things around. The team has lost six of its past seven games, including Thursday's 8-3 defeat to Salt Lake, to drop to 12-18 and second to last in the 10-team Pacific Coast League.
Maybe a little Helton hustle and clubhouse wisdom is just what this team needs to shift momentum.
—
Continue reading...
