Colorado's Todd Helton: "I would love to get a taste of the playoffs": Rockies first baseman has reached numerous individual career points, but he won't feel complete until he's part of a championship team.(Interview)

TODD HELTON HAS BEEN PRAISED as a future Hall of Famer, a throwback, someone who would rather drink a glass shard milkshake than give away an at-bat.

He has played in four All-Star Games, won two Gold Gloves and a National League batting title. But as he sat down for breakfast before the start of the 2004 season, the 30-year-old talked about what has evaded him. Going into his seventh full season, Helton remained Mr. Rockie.

And every year, he misses October.

"It's like a dog who has never had table scraps. I really don't know what it tastes like. I would love to get a taste of the playoffs," Helton said. "I hope I will get to, and I hope it's this year. I am not on the three-year or four-year plan to get to there. I am on a one-year plan."

In a wide-ranging interview that included discussion about his leadership style, added weight and the importance of the Rockies' bullpen, he frequently returned to the subject of winning.

But unlike in November, when Helton said he would listen if the team wanted to trade him, his frustration no longer was visible.

"I stay in pretty good control of my emotions most of the time. I am in a great organization with people I know want to win," Helton said. "It's harder than it sounds. The Yankees spent $180 million and didn't do it. But I would just like to scoreboard-watch at least one day."