36-year old lefty swinging starting 1B Todd Helton is off to a very slow start this year. He has played in 55 games for the Rockies this year and he is 49 of 192 (.255 avg, .684 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs. Helton has played 14 years for the Rockies appearing in 1,867 games in which he is 2,183 of 6,698 (.326 avg, .985 OPS) with 1,244 runs scored, 326 homers and 1,213 RBIs. I blame the Humidor and Helton’s age as the reasons he’s not hitting like he used to. The Rockies can’t make the playoffs with Helton hitting like he is right now so they need him to wake up…..and soon!

Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton appeared to wake up with the bat last night but the Rockies need that to continue. Fowler is 2 for 10 with 2 RBIs in this series while Helton is 2 for 12 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. But starting 2B Clint Barmes has been truly awful so far in this series as he is 0 for 10. The Rockies need all hands on the deck as they face elimination tonight so these three guys need to step up.

Yorvit Torrealba might become the Rockies’ backup catcher soon as he is clearly getting outplayed by Chris Iannetta. Torrealba has played in 39 games this season for the Rockies and he is 30 for 137 (.219 avg, .595 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs. The Rockies should have been more careful about re-signing Torrealba in the off season after his deal fell through with the Mets due to right shoulder issues. Chris Iannetta had a terrible rookie season but he’s swinging a good stick right now and it should earn him even more playing time than he is already getting. Iannetta has played in 33 games so far this season for the Rockies and he is 30 for 104 (.288 avg, .938 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 6 homers and 21 RBIs.

Kazuo Matsui was outstanding in the first half of the season but he’s been average in the 2nd half.  Since the All-Star Break, Matsui has played in 46 games and he is 47 for 175 (.269 avg, .687 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.  For the season, Matsui has played in 92 games and he is hitting .291 (.754 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 4 homers, 34 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.

Jeff Baker, Chris Iannetta and Jamey Carroll have all had tough first halves.  Baker is struggling because he just isn’t getting enough playoff time to stay sharp.  Baker is only hitting .230 with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs in only 100 atbats this season.  Jamey Carroll has also been pretty bad with the stick in his hands this season.  Carroll is hitting only .212 with 25 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs in 132 atbats this season.  Chris Iannetta was given the starting job at catcher when the season started but he lost it to Yorvit Torrealba because of his poor play.  Iannetta is hitting only .198 with 14 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs in 131 atbats.  The Rockies should do the right thing and send the kid to AAA to get his confidence back.