Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton will sit out the first handful of spring training games. The 39 year-old had surgery to repair his right hip last August. Though Helton says he feels ‘fine’ and has been participating in all drills, manager Walt Weiss says he wants to take it easy on the veteran early in the spring. Weiss says he’ll also keep 38 year-old closer Rafael Betancourt out of game action for a few games as well. The Rockies open their Cactus League schedule Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.