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Helms: Early Homer Drought Spoiled Season

On a rainy and windy Monday in Clearwater, Wes Helms was the subject of considerable media attention. With the signing of Pedro Feliz, a numbers game has taken shape in the Phillies infield. Rumors have Helms being shopped around, and after his poor 2007, he’s arguably most likely to be cut from the 25-man Opening Day roster. Todd Zolecki recorded the mini press junket with Helms.

On signing Pedro Feliz and how he’s looking at playing time:

“It definitely put a damper in the playing time and all, but … I don’t look at it that way. If it comes down to being on the team or being the backup, then that’s so forth.”

On a potential deal that could benefit his playing time:

“In this game you’re loyal [to] the team you’re on. But when it comes down to your career, you want to play. That’s the only way you can go further. If they have a deal on the table where it benefits me and them, then yeah.”

On his offensive struggles in 2007:

“I had a good Spring Training and everything went great. I think when I didn’t hit the home run right away I started hearing it in my ear … it just messed my whole year up. I’ve always had a short —a short, compact swing. I would be the guy if I had 500 at bats, maybe I’d have 20 home runs but I’d have 40 doubles.”

On playing multiple positions in 2008:

“I’m thinking of myself first and third, because when it comes down to it, if there is something that comes down to a trade … that benefits me.”

On where he expects to be on Opening Day:

“I don’t know. That’s something that pans out when it does.”

I find it very interesting that Helms says he was most affected by the fact he couldn’t hit a home run early in the season (his first came on June 13). He blamed, more or less, peer pressure on his struggles. Obviously baseball is a mental game, but how does a guy not go with his strengths, especially when he’s performing so poorly?

I wouldn’t be upset to see Helms get dealt for something, maybe cheap pitching. While he could show to become a .280 hitter with moderate power, his inability to correct himself over an entire season is incredibly poor.

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Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.

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