What happened to Todd?

Series of the Week – Early Edition
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees – Monday through Wednesday

Even with their three game sweep of the Sox in the Bronx, the Yankees are five games back in the American League East, and the Red Sox’ schedule is far more favorable down the stretch. That leaves the Yankees just one option to make the playoffs – the Wild Card. They are right in the thick of things in American League Wild Card race, with the Mariners one of their prime competitors.

The Mariners are in a similar boat, having gone into a tailspin and losing eight straight heading into today. Six and a half games back of the Angels, the only hope the Mariners have is the Wild Card, where they trail the Yankees by two games. Not winning at least two of the three games in the Bronx could put the Mariners in a hole that they cannot recover from.

This series kicks off in glorious fashion, with the King, Felix Hernandez (10-7, 4.08), facing off against Roger Clemens (6-5, 4.15). Clemens held the Sox to just two hits and one earned run in six innings in his last outing, but he also walked five, so he was far from perfect. Hernandez did not walk anyone in his last outing, but he did allow thirteen hits and six earned runs in seven innings, striking out just three in his first loss since July 22.

While most of the Mariners have not been hitting during this stretch, Kenji Johjima has. Over his last ten games, Johjima is hitting .469, but the lack of hitting around him has led to just four RBI and three runs for Johjima. If the Mariners are going to win this series, they need to get some baserunners for Johjima to drive in and someone to occasionally drive him in as well – they simply cannot win with him being the sole offensive producer.

Most probably figured that Melky Cabrera would have cooled off by now, but that simply has not happened. Over his last ten games, Cabrera is hitting .324 with seven RBI, three runs, and a stolen base. There is simply no way at this point that Cabrera is not guaranteed a spot in the Opening Day lineup.

Series of the Week – Weekend Edition
San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies – Friday through Sunday

The Rockies have yet to climb in to first or second in the National League West, but they continue to hang around. This series will either get them in the race or bury them once and for all. The Padres have a clear advantage opening the series, as they send Jake Peavy (16-5, 2.10) out to kick off the series for them while Elmer Dessens (2-2, 7.39) takes the ball for the Rockies. Yeah, that seems fair.

The hitter to spotlight for the Rockies is Todd Helton. What happened to the old Todd Helton? Somewhere along the way, Todd Helton went from being Todd Helton to being Sean Casey. While he did hit .319 in August, Helton hit just three home runs and drove in only 12 RBI. After rolling off season after season of 100 RBI or more, Helton has missed that mark for three straight seasons and is about to run that to four, and he about to complete his third straight season with less than 90 RBI.

Disappearing power has been the story as well in San Diego, where Brian Giles had just one home run through the first half. Since the break, however, Giles has been on a roll, relatively speaking, hitting .312 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and 24 runs in 170 at-bats since the break.