Todd Helton is unquestionably the best Rockies player in their history. He holds the club record for nearly every offensive category. Helton made his debut late in the 1997 season and has been named to five all-start teams since. Helton is one of five players in history to have a “325 career batting average, .400 on-base percentage and a .565 slugging percentage, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams and Albert Pujols.”
2000 was Helton’s best year. He lead the National League in batting average .372, slugging percentage, .698, on base percentage .463, runs batted in, and doubles, 59.
In April of 2001, Helton signed a nine-year contract for $141.5 million. The contact kicked in for the 2003 season and finished after the 2011 season.
Before this season Helton, 37, signed a two-year extension for $9.9 million. Recently there have been rumblings that Helton will retire before that contract starts before the 2012 season.
The first third of the 2010 season has been quite the disappointment for Helton and the Rockies.
After batting in the third spot, which is usually designated for the best hitter in a lineup, for nearly all of his career, Helton has been moved down to the seventh spot in the order for the past week.
He is batting .244, with one homerun and 11 RBI. To put that in perspective Jason Giambi has two homeruns and 10 RBI in one-third the at bats.
Recently, I heard Mark Kizla, who writes for the Denver Post and is close with the Rockies; say that he wouldn’t be surprised if Helton retired after this year if his production remains minimal.
Kizla said that Helton was too proud and too good of a guy to waste the Rockies money. In an article written by Kizla on May 24, Kizla wrote, “If Helton doesn't get his groove back, here's a guarantee his pride won't allow him to serve out the remainder of a contract recently extended through 2013.”
No one is expecting Helton to return to his 2000 self, but hopefully a return to respectability is in order.
2000 was Helton’s best year. He lead the National League in batting average .372, slugging percentage, .698, on base percentage .463, runs batted in, and doubles, 59.
In April of 2001, Helton signed a nine-year contract for $141.5 million. The contact kicked in for the 2003 season and finished after the 2011 season.
Before this season Helton, 37, signed a two-year extension for $9.9 million. Recently there have been rumblings that Helton will retire before that contract starts before the 2012 season.
The first third of the 2010 season has been quite the disappointment for Helton and the Rockies.
After batting in the third spot, which is usually designated for the best hitter in a lineup, for nearly all of his career, Helton has been moved down to the seventh spot in the order for the past week.
He is batting .244, with one homerun and 11 RBI. To put that in perspective Jason Giambi has two homeruns and 10 RBI in one-third the at bats.
Recently, I heard Mark Kizla, who writes for the Denver Post and is close with the Rockies; say that he wouldn’t be surprised if Helton retired after this year if his production remains minimal.
Kizla said that Helton was too proud and too good of a guy to waste the Rockies money. In an article written by Kizla on May 24, Kizla wrote, “If Helton doesn't get his groove back, here's a guarantee his pride won't allow him to serve out the remainder of a contract recently extended through 2013.”
No one is expecting Helton to return to his 2000 self, but hopefully a return to respectability is in order.
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