Todd Helton is jealous.
From his home in Knoxville, Tenn., No. 17 keeps close tabs on the Rockies. He reads about them, checks box scores daily, watches games whenever he can, and checks out highlights on MLB Network.
There’s been a lot to celebrate.
The Rockies, in first place in the National League West, entered a weekend series against the Cardinals with a 31-18 record, legitimized by a 7-3 record on their just-completed 10-game road trip
“I’m impressed,” Helton said by phone after finishing a round of golf with some friends in Florida. “I knew Buddy Black was a great hire as manager, but I didn’t know how good those young pitchers were.